The Famous Studios, more the earlier ones than the more variable later ones, Popeye cartoons were generally amusing enough and all the 40s efforts were well made (a bit more mixed for the 50s ones). To me though Fleischer's Popeye cartoons were funnier and fresher (even when the stories were formulaic the material was often very inventive) and they looked better, or at least looked better than the later Famous Studios output where time and budget limitations showed.
1948 was a pretty disappointing year for the series, with the exceptions of 'Olive Oyl for President' and 'Symphony in Spinach'. At this still early stage of 1949, the series already feels like a slight improvement, but it really isn't the series at its best here and 'Lumberjack and Jill' has enough of what it is that make the Popeye cartoons appealing but not one of the best representations. 'Lumberjack and Jill' is not a great cartoon, but it is a long way from bad at the same time.
'Lumberjack and Jill's' animation is bright and colourful as usual for the late-40s efforts and there is some lovely background detail. Don't have any issue with the music either and never did throughout the series, which is typically merry and sumptuous, adding to and enhancing the action and even gestures and expressions. There are some amusing moments, though nothing here is hilarious or particularly inspired.
Popeye is an enjoyable titular character as always, will never get enough of his asides, while Bluto matches him, betters him even, in comic timing while being a suitably formidable foil. Their chemistry is nice though on occasion the antics are on the repetitious aside. The voice acting is also fine, Jack Mercer being spot on. Jackson Beck voices robustly.
However, 'Lumberjack and Jill' is very predictable, despite a different setting this was a bit repetitive, and never feels particularly inspired. It could have done with more energy and certainly more gags, what was there never really rises above amusing. The first half can be quite dull, taking too long and while things do pick up in the second half, the wildness isn't quite there.
Olive is very bland and has very little to do other than being a plot device.
Concluding, not bad if not great. 6/10.
