The Simple Things

By 1953, Mickey Mouse's great short subjects were behind him. The experimental excitement of Steamboat Willie, the atmosphere and adventure of The Klondike Kid, the silly fun of Ye Olden Days-- all gave way to the watering down of Mickey's character and the decreasing profitability of the short films. Sure, those black and white cartoons are technically crude in comparison to the later shorts of the 40s and 50s, but they have more character than the Technicolor blandness of that later period.

As far as Disney shorts go, you can do worse than the final of the classic era Mickey Mouse shorts, The Simple Things. It's not a clinker by any means, as it possesses a few charming moments and competent character animation. But it is certainly not terribly entertaining or re-watchable. More focus is given to Pluto and the hungry seagull which torments him more so than Mickey, showing just how bland his character had become by the early 1950s.

As a big fan of 1930s Mickey Mouse, it depresses me how dull the character became, but at least we have later shorts like Runaway Brain and the direct to DVD Mickey, Donald, and Goofy: The Three Musketeers to compensate for decades of snooze fests.

The final Mickey Mouse theatrical short in the classic era. Also the last one made in Walt Disney's lifetime. The story is a very simple one. Mickey and Pluto are going fishing. Pluto gets into trouble with a clam and Mickey fights off a seagull trying to steal his bait. It's an enjoyable short albeit an unexceptional one. The colors are luscious and the animation is beautiful. A few funny moments here and there. Mickey's final line is bittersweet. My favorite part about the whole thing is that title song. I'm not sure who sang it but it's just lovely. This isn't one of the best Mickey or Pluto shorts I've seen but it is nice.

I didn't know until looking at the reviews on Letterboxd and IMDb trivia that this was the last Mickey Mouse cartoon that Walt Disney worked on, in other words the final one that was a short in this format (I have to think Mickey Mouse showed up *somewhere* in the 13 ensuing years until Disney died, maybe someone can bring this info up). It certainly was a good one to leave off on, and mostly because it goes back to the spirit of the early Mickey Mouse shorts: Mickey having lots of gags involving other animals that are screwing around with him.

Of course it's not quite the same since we also have Pluto, but the raison d'etre of Mickey Mouse can be seen here just as well as in those late 20's and early 30's shots (it's not quite that quality, but then what is). It's a lot of fun to see the hijinks ensue with the clams and then the seagulls, and the light but constantly mounting touch that Disney brought, where a gag builds on top of another and it's about the affronting personalities and clashing of conflicts more than anything, makes it memorable.

I think that it helps to watch it as a kid initially, as I got to do (thanks Disney Classics VHS series in the 80's, which introduced me and other kids to Steamboat Willie by the way), so that the history of it and that significance can come later. If you take it on its own, it's not any masterwork but it's fun and engaging and cute and that's what counts.

Mickey and Pluto decide to go fishing by the ocean. They have little success because Pluto has an encounter with a clam and Mickey with a seagull. What could have been the enjoyment of the simple things becomes an incredibly unpleasant day. The clam seems a bit over the top. I've never liked seagulls. Basically it's about two pleasant characters having their days ruined through no fault of their own.

Known for being Mickey Mouse's final cartoon, The Simple Things is a good if not entirely exceptional cartoon. The story is entertaining and crisply paced if routine, and the seagull gives a new meaning to the word obnoxious. On the other hand, the animation is clean and beautiful, colourful and vibrant in the colours and fluid in the backgrounds, and the music brims with energy. The cartoon is also funny if never hilarious. Mickey is as likable as ever, and Pluto still has his cuteness and energy, neither of which either character has really lost.

All in all, a well done, technically great and likable cartoon if not one of Mickey/Pluto's best. 8/10 Bethany Cox