Me Musical Nephews

Me Musical Nephews (1942)

** 1/2 (out of 4)

Popeye is watching his four nephews and they are practicing on their musical instruments but the uncle says that's enough and sends them to bed. However, once in bed that doesn't stop them from the music.

For the most part this is a mildly entertaining episode for the series that offers up some nice animation as well as a great directing job. The music numbers are extremely fast-paced and the way the action on screen mixes with the music was well-handled. There really aren't too many laughs to be found here but the highlight is the sequence where Popeye keeps opening the door trying to catch the kids making noise but they are one step ahead of him.

Do have a preference for the Fleischer era cartoons, that are generally funnier, more imaginative and of higher quality. Many of the Famous Studio offerings entertain and are well done, the earlier Famous Studios cartoons look better though whereas the later ones were inferior in animation quality and ideas, though still enjoyable generally.

'Me Musical Nephews' is not quite one of my favourite Popeye cartoons overall. It is enormously enjoyable though and has pretty much everything that was so great about the best of the Fleischer output while not being quite as imaginative in the formula and humour. That is not saying that 'Me Musical Nephews' is unimaginative, for Famous Studios Popeye it is quite the contrary. The result is a great cartoon and also one of Famous Studios' better Popeye cartoons overall.

One doesn't care so much that the story is on the thin and somewhat formulaic side, consisting of a battle between Popeye and his nephews involving making music when there's meant to be sleep. Namely because there is enough creativity and variety to stop 'Me Musical Nephews' from being repetitive and the energy is constant and so infectious. .

So many fine things. The animation is great , the backgrounds have lost none of the meticulous attention to detail, it's fluid, Popeye still looks good and is recognisable in design and the shading has atmosphere. Every bit as good is the lively and lushly orchestrated music score, that has character and adds a lot to the action and enhances it. It is also very important here and essential to the cartoon's success, it is brilliantly done here.

Popeye is amusing and likeable still, he is also quite relatable here, and Jack Mercer doesn't disappoint with the voice acting. The nephews are bratty but they avoids being too annoying and they are actually very funny, their actions and behaviour handled very cleverly.

There are a lot of gags that are timed beautifully and are very funny and laugh a minute, the best absolutely hilarious. The energy never ceases and the non-stop action prevents it from being dull.

In conclusion, great. 9/10 Bethany Cox

A pretty funny cartoon considering the fact that I was never a fan of Popeye's nephews. They were actually created by the studio to compete with Disney's Huey Dewey and Louie, and for me that just makes me disrespect them even more. This cartoon however was really funny, and it's fun to watch them make music with objects they found in there room.

Popeye's four nephews are keeping him awake with their music practice. He puts them to bed but it's not so easy to get them to sleep. It's too bad that the nephews did not become regulars. They're actually a great group. Groups of nephews have been great sidekicks in other series although three seems to be the better number. It's got fun music. The kids are fun. It's a fun Popeye short.

Popeye is getting annoyed in this early cartoon because his nephews are making noise playing the trumpet, trombone, drums and piano while our hero is trying to take a nap on his big easy chair. Popeye sends them to bed but they demand a story first. The kids - Peepeye, Poopeye, Pipeye and Pupeye - rush to the bathroom, which is funny to see since all have separate facilitates.

Once in bed, the kids can't sleep and they sure have music in their blood. They improvise, playing bed springs, trash cans, the radiator, and whatever they see in the room to make more music....and they sound good, too.

The last part is hilarious as a woken-up Popeye tries to catch the kids in the act, but they are too quick for him. Overall, a very clever animated short.