A Ursa Intolerável

Having just seen a couple of Warner cartoons featuring a character named Little Blabbermouse, I've now watched another Warner cartoon with another mouse named Sniffles who now talks constantly. He's one of several elements that make this Chuck Jones entry a very funny outing. Among others are a British fox trying to rob a house, the police cop bear who arrives late after another drink at the bar, and his wife who sleepwalks and is threatening to hit her hubby with a rolling pin. All those three people I just mentioned end up in an elaborate chase that shows how good Jones is at this kind of thing as he later proved with the Road Runner series and the Bugs/Daffy/Elmer shorts. And Sniffles, usually a gentle person, provides some hilarity when he bangs a gong or turns on a radio which he mistakes for a combination lock. On that note, The Unbearable Bear is a cartoon short well worth seeing.

Let me say at the outset that I usually LIKE Sniffles and that some Sniffles shorts are favorites of mine. Most of the time, I think he's funny. Not here, though, because here he's like fingernails on a chalkboard and distracts the viewer from an otherwise delightful cartoon. In this one, I devoutly wish a cat would appear with the idea that he and Sniffles do lunch, with Sniffles as the main course. Splendid cartoon with an oversized helping of gabby mouse. Worth watching unless you dislike Sniffles. Recommended with the above reservations in mind.

Chuck Jones is widely considered one of animation's finest directors/animators and for very good reason. When he was at his best, his cartoons were masterpieces of animation, comic timing, characterisation and wit.

The Sniffles cartoon series were very early efforts for Jones, and, while they are interesting from a historical perspective, it is safe to say that from personal opinion they really don't see him at his best. There is somewhat of a still finding his feet feel here, with the humour once he became a regular director for the Looney Tunes/Merrie Melodies cartoons becoming much funnier, more constant and wittier and the characterisation far more interesting.

As far as the Sniffles cartoons go, 'The Unbearable Bear' is one of the better ones. It's a little predictable and Sniffles is agreed annoying at times, nowhere near as much though as Batty in the previous cartoon 'The Brave Little Bat'.

However, there is really not that much wrong with 'The Unbearable Bear'. The animation is very good. It is lush and vibrant in colour and meticulous and beautifully drawn in detail. The character designs are fluid, well drawn and distinctive Jones, if not the creative ones of his very best cartoons. Carl Stalling's music is lush and characterful, with clever orchestration and a mastery of not just adding to the action but enhancing it as well (Stalling was a near-unequalled master at this, though Scott Bradley gave him a run for his money).

It is a very amusing, cute and easy to like cartoon and credit should be given for trying to give Sniffles a more compelling personality other than the cloyingly sugary sweet "cute" character he easily could have been, even though they did try a little too hard and could have toned it down. The supporting characters are good fun, especially Officer Bear, and the voice acting is very good.

All in all, one of Sniffles' better cartoons. 8/10 Bethany Cox