Love animation, it was a big part of my life as a child, particularly Disney, Looney Tunes and Tom and Jerry, and still love it whether it's film, television or cartoons. Actually appreciate it even more through young adults eyes, due to having more knowledge of it, various animation styles, studios, directors and how it all works.
'He Was Her Man' is not one of Friz Freleng's, a director who did many great cartoons and a director held in high admiration by me, best, not being one of his funniest, wittiest or freshest. For relatively early Freleng, 'He Was Her Man' is worth watching though he would do much better later. It is never what one would call properly hilarious (but is never unfunny), Freleng's later efforts show more evenness and confidence in directing and the story.
It is quite thin in terms of story and the structure is basically an excuse to string the events along. It is not terribly imaginative and occasionally momentum is not always there.
Some of 'He Was Her Man' is a bit on the sentimental side and goes overboard slightly on the melodrama.
However, the characters are well done, with the wife character being a touching and very rootable character. The husband is purposefully less likeable but it is a characterisation that is far from unrealistic.
The cartoon has a good deal of poignancy and shows the darkness of the Great Depression without being too preachy. It has some variety and there is a good deal of liveliness. The conflict between husband and wife is nicely done and there is a good deal of cuteness and charm. The climax is fun and suitably unusual.
Animation is very good, it's fluid in movement, crisp in shading, vibrant and very meticulous in detail. The music is outstanding, it is lovely on the ears, lushly orchestrated, full of lively energy and characterful in rhythm, as well as poignant, not only adding to the action but also enhancing it.
Overall, worth watching. 7/10 Bethany Cox
