Chilly Willy's best cartoons were perfect examples of how a potentially one-joke character and concept could end up actually being a perfect mix of the cute and the funny with a lot of colour and good comic timing to go with it.
Many of the previous Chilly Willy cartoons were very good to fabulous. 'St Moritz Blitz', and it is better than most later Paul J. Smith efforts, is not one of those. Certainly not awful, a long way from that. Just that Chilly and Smedley have done much better, and considering that Paul J. Smith actually created Chilly Willy and his debut cartoon was a great one it is such a shame that not all the elements work and his later Chilly Willy cartoons don't feel the same.
'St Moritz Blitz', like with 'Fish Hooked' (the first Smith-directed Chilly Willy cartoon since 1953's 'Chilly Willy, is a rather predictable cartoon, the outcomes of every gag and the ending can be seen from ages off, and some of the action is repetitive.
On top of being predictable, the story also lacks variation which gives it a repetitiveness.
Outside of Chilly and Smedley, the rest are not particularly memorable apart from the innkeeper's character design reminiscent a little of Wally Walrus. Animation-wise, the drawings never were the most refined but other than some nice bright colours and Chilly and Smedley coming off well a lot of the drawing looks rushed and ugly.
However, the music is full of lively bounce and character, with luscious orchestration. It not only adds to the action and visuals but enhances them too.
Some of the gags are hurt by the lack of variety but most are amusing and are timed well. Especially Smedley's ski jump. The chemistry between Chilly and Smedley sparkles, and it is always remarkable at what Chilly has up his sleeve and how he does it. Underneath all that irresistible cuteness he is one clever, funny and at times fairly brutal penguin.
Chilly is adorable and is also a lot of fun, with his actions speaking far louder than words. He may be a nuisance to his opponents but he wins the viewer over with his cuteness and timing. Daws Butler (in his distinctive Huckleberry Hound voice) delivers some solid voice acting as Smedley, the slightly funnier and more interesting character.
Overall, unexceptional but watchable. 6/10 Bethany Cox
