The Mouse from H.U.N.G.E.R.

Although more than 58 years have passed since "The Mouse from H. U. N. G. E. R." aired, I consider it one of the best Tom and Jerry episodes

However, I consider it one of the best Tom and Jerry episodes, and I deserve it 10 stars.

I'm surprised some people rate it only three stars! Perhaps the reason is that this episode was produced during a different period than the golden age of Tom and Jerry

But if we judge it as a standalone episode, we find that it is full of creativity, smart humor, and a wonderful use of espionage and adventure elements in a satirical way that suits the spirit of the period in which it was produced.

Although this cartoon isn't as bad as the horrible Czechoslovakian-made Tom and Jerry cartoons of the early 1960s, this isn't much better either. Shortly after discontinuing making these lousy European cartoons that bore little, if any, resemblance to our beloved duo, the studio hired the ex-Warner Brother director, Chuck Jones, to revive the series. And, while the cartoons looked pretty good (but very different in art style from the originals), the chemistry was generally a mess. Tom and Jerry just didn't look or act the same and the characters just didn't seem like the originals. However, of all the Chuck Jones cartoons, I nominate this as one of the absolute worst because the characters bore ZERO resemblance to the originals. In this case, Tom and Jerry are James Bond-like spies. Gimme a break!!!

A sharp script manages to save one of the late, Chuck-Jones-produced Tom & Jerries as they do a spy movie spoof. At the end it degenerates into roughly-drawn random violence -- as opposed to the exquisitely drawn random violence of the best Hanna & Barbera Tom & Jerries. Before that end, however, it is pretty good.

That is a real shame as well, because I love Tom and Jerry and Chuck Jones, so having Tom and Jerry under him seemed as though it could work and there was the hope that it would be far better than the Gene Deitch cartoons. The Chuck Jones output for Tom and Jerry is uneven, there are some like Snowbody Loves Me that I do like, while I didn't see the point of entries like Matinée Mouse. Most range from decent to average. The worst of his output are at least better than Deitch's, then again anything's better than the likes of Switchin' Kitten and Sorry Safari, but the best falls well short of being classics. The Mouse from H.U.N.G.E.R didn't work for me I'm afraid, it isn't abominable but there was a pick between worst of Jones' Tom and Jerry cartoons it is between this and Matinée Mouse, Matinée Mouse if I needed to choose which was worse would edge it out. The Mouse from H.U.N.G.E.R isn't completely shambolic, the concept is decent(if very different and uncharacteristic and Tom and Jerry), Tom and Jerry are not that badly drawn and I do enjoy Tom's Grinch-like facial expressions. Sadly that is all the things I can see in favour of The Mouse from H.U.N.G.E.R. The rest of the animation is rough-looking and the colours are flat and unappealing. And there are one too many instances in Jones' Tom and Jerry output where I don't care at all for the music. That is true here, it's all tacky-sounding and thoroughly lifeless. The pacing is a similar problem. You'd think that it would be crisp and energetic, but here everything feels as though everybody involved didn't have their hearts in it, almost like a dirge but slightly faster. The lack of any decent gags don't help things though, there is nothing witty, clever or imaginative, it's all too forced and predictable. Tom and Jerry are great character with a unique chemistry. There has been proof in Jones' output that they have had some likability and work well together, but that's not the case in The Mouse From H.U.N.G.E.R as the chemistry is completely bland and neither character act or seem anything like what we're familiar with. In conclusion, there has been much worse but this was disappointing. 4/10 Bethany Cox

With spy films and TV series all the rage in the '60s, it's not surprising to see that Tom and Jerry cashed in on the craze with The Mouse from H.U.N.G.E.R., a Man From Uncle/Bond style caper in which secret agent Jerry is on a mission to relieve villainous Tom Thrush of his massive supply of cheese.

Directed by Abe Levitow, this is one of the more fanciful Tom and Jerry cartoons, which automatically makes it tough going for one who prefers their cat and mouse capers to be grounded in the real world, where animals don't drive cars or reside in top secret, booby trapped headquarters. While not quite as abysmal as Levitow's Guided Mouse-Ille (1967), the nadir of the Chuck Jones produced efforts (thus far), The Mouse from H.U.N.G.E.R is still well below average, with not an ounce of charm and very few laughs.

2.5/10, rounded up to 3 for IMDb.