Wimmin Hadn't Oughta Drive

Popeye shows Olive Oly his new car. She wants to drive and he reluctantly acquiesces. Olive is especially annoying in this one. It makes her look bad and makes the relationship look bad. It's a part of the Popeye cartoons that I've never liked. Otherwise, this is perfectly fine Popeye.

Wimmin Hadn't Oughta Drive (1940)

*** (out of 4)

Fun-nature episode in the series has Popeye showing off his new car to Olive who of course then wants him to "learn her" how to drive.

The title should pretty much tell you the type of humor this film is going to offer and that's sexism. Yes, this is a sexist short that's trying to say women can't drive and that's what makes it so funny. I'm sure some might be offended by the subject matter but who cares? This was a really funny short and especially the way Popeye's patience is constantly being tested because Olive just does one dumb thing after another. The gag dealing with the turning of the car is the highlight of the picture.

There is little plot here. After the offensive title goes past, Popeye is intimidated into letting Olive drive his new car. Once this happens, all the cliches begin. The grabbing and pulling off of the steering wheel. Not being able to get it out of reverse. Distraction by both of them, running into things time after time. It's just rather uninteresting.

In this one, Popeye "teaches" Olive how to drive. I'm curious as to who taught Popeye, as he neglects to impart Important Rule # 1: Pay attention to the road when navigating any vehicle anywhere. It isn't that Olive is totally inattentive. She's just not attentive to minor trivialities-like steering or the traffic around her. The title here shouldn't be "Wimmin Hadn't Oughta Drive" but rather, "Don't Let Olive Oyl Have Control Over Anything More Complex To Operate Than a Toothpick". Though I must confess that Popeye is no great mental heavyweight either, as he permits Olive behind the wheel in the first place! Great sight gags make this loads of fun. Jack Mercer was as great as always and the ending is fittingly apropos. Worth seeking out and most recommended.

There are a few good gags early on but overall, this is not one of the better Popeye cartoons.

Popeye's new car looks great, has a unique engine and a very unique horn. Those sight gags are funny. But then he takes Olive out for a spin and immediately, she wants to learn how to drive and threatens to leave him, if he won't. Like a wuss, he relents - he always did with Olive. Imagine anyone, however, even Popeye, giving someone the wheel of a brand new car when they haven't a clue how to drive. You know what's going to happen to the poor car.

Plus, nobody is dumb enough to say and act like Olive does in here. Usually, she may be fickle and demanding but she's not stupid. In this cartoon, she's stupid, and so is Popeye. The gags are really not funny nor is the ending clever.

You have to at least give Popeye credit for incredible patience and forgiveness, far beyond the call of duty.