The Lonesome Mouse

What I like about Tom and Jerry cartoons is that they are unpredictable, unique, and mostly funny. This one is right in the middle somewhat - unique, but not too funny. Just lots of running and chasing around. Always like hearing Mammy Two-Shoes, though.

Grade B-

Jerry gets Tom thrown out of the house by the black maid. With the

cat now out of the picture, Jerry is initially overjoyed, but soon

realises that without him his life is no fun. He therefore calls a

truce with Tom to try and get him back in the house.

One of the first things you notice is that Jerry and Tom talk in this!

Not something that was used very often in the series, I know, but I

bet it shocked a few people who were not used to it (especially

those that had not seen that awful 1991 Tom & Jerry: The Movie).

This is also the landmark cartoon where Tom started to become

less hairy than in the previous cartoons of the series.

Not an enormously great cartoon to start with, but picks up a little

later on. Be warned that anyone that lived in the Second World

War may find a certain political allusion involving the picture of

Tom's face on his basket offensive.

The Lonesome Mouse is a great cartoon. While a rather basic plot, with Jerry and Tom realizing how much they need each other, it becomes entertaining. Tom and Jerry's brief dialogue in the short is a routine change, and it's always nice to hear them say one or two things. The gags involving them fake fighting, as well as both antagonizing Mammy Two-Shoes, is always funny, and it's nice to sometimes see Tom and Jerry team up. Other highlights include Jerry jumping around when Tom is kicked out, including ripping his pillow and giving him a Hitler mustache, Tom becoming the Sphinx with a broom, and Jerry slamming Tom into a pie at the end. This cartoon is very funny, and a recommended watch for even a casual Tom and Jerry fan.

There was a lesson to this story, one of those "you don't miss what you have until you lose it" or "the grass is always greener on the other side," etc. However you phrase it, Jerry discovers he'd rather have Tom chasing him around the house than no Tom at all. He misses the excitement.

He doesn't think so in the beginning, "framing" our cat and having "Mammy Two Shoes" boot him out of the house for breaking a vase which Jerry broke. While the devilish mouse is singing "Happy Days Are Here Again," in a few days he winds up bored out of his mind and wishing Tom was back in the house.

Finally, he goes out to Tom across the street and they concoct a plan to get him back into the good graces of "Mammy," so he can get his warm home back.

This isn't hilarious but there are enough gags in here plus a rarity: hearing the two main characters speak English briefly - to definitely warrant watching this. Some of the facial expressions of Jerry made me really laugh. It was "cute" and funny at the same time.

This was part of the Tom and Jerry Spotlight Collection Volume Two DVD.

This has a lot of noteworthy points. First, it's a cartoon featuring Mammy Two-Shoes. Second, as a short made during World War II, there is a visual political joke in the early going. Third, and most significantly, the two stars speak, something generally avoided, for good reason, the characters are funnier and less complicated silent. There is a nice touch of enlightened self-interest, when Jerry helps Tom get back inside, because he finds life less exciting without the mayhem. The temporary truce/partnership ends when gluttony rears its porcine head. But that's okay-there has to be a rivalry, doesn't there? That's the whole point to this one in the first place! Very good short and worth watching. Recommended.