Really like to love a good deal of Popeye cartoons and like the character of Popeye. Will admit though to preferring the Popeye cartoons from the Dave Fleischer era, the cartoons tend to be funnier, of higher quality and there is more originality and more risk taking in some of them.
'Patriotic Popeye' is one of the last Popeye cartoons, made in Famous Studios' roughest and most variable period where budgets were much smaller in particularly the animation and deadlines and time constraints were shorter and tighter. All things considered, while there are infinitely better Popeye cartoons (especially during the Fleischer era) and there are signs of what made this period an inferior one for Famous Studios, 'Patriotic Popeye' is not a bad late Popeye cartoon at all, actually really very enjoyable and one of the better overall cartoons in Famous Studios' late output.
As to be expected, the story is nothing special despite a relatively different conflict (with an appearance from his nephews) and not having the usual supporting characters (Olive Oyl and Bluto), two of the biggest interest points about 'Patriotic Popeye'. Occasionally for my tastes it was a little too preachy.
Similarly the animation quality is uneven, never terrible but never fantastic. The colours are fine and there is smoothness and nice detail but there are many moments where the backgrounds are sparse and the drawing rough.
What is fantastic about 'Patriotic Popeye' is the music score, the best thing for me. It's beautifully orchestrated, rhythmically it's full of energy and there is so much character and atmosphere, it's also brilliant at adding to the action and enhancing it. The gags, ranging from very amusing to hilarious, if not particularly imaginative, for late Famous Studios/Popeye, are executed very well. The interplay between Popeye and the nephews is lively and witty if in need of more variety at times and the pace is never dull.
Popeye is very likeable and amusing in 'Patriotic Popeye', while the nephews are not too irritating, being amusing despite being jerks. Jack Mercer does a great job as Popeye and the Popeye voice that has always in my mind the most.
Concluding, pretty good. Better than the low rating indicates. 7/10 Bethany Cox
