What a Life

What a Life (1932)

** 1/2 (ouit of 4)

Flip and a friend are out in the street playing music hoping to pick up some money but they don't. They head off and soon run into a policeman and a battle follows.

WHAT A LIFE isn't the greatest film in the Flip series but there is some slight entertainment to be had. Once again I think the best thing going for the film is the animation by Ub Iwerks who manages to make the film look terrific and the visuals are really great to look at. The story itself here is pretty good, although there's honestly nothing too funny or special going on. The highlight is certainly at the end when some of the Pre-Code innuendo comes into play when Flip and the friend end up in the house of a certain woman.

For the most part, the screen career of Flip the Frog was undistinguished and that's being kind. In a handful of cases, however, the style was almost matched by the substance. This is one of those times. The cartoon is funny, biting and satirical. Flip actually displays some energy and a bit of personality in spots. There are some touching moments as well as some exceptionally funny sight gags. There's a certain pancake with maple syrup and butter prominent in its future! Visually fine with enough story to actually hang something somewhat solid on. This one more or less holds its own and is worth the price of admission. Ub Iwerks would probably have lasted considerably longer as an independent if he'd done quite a few more as good as this one. Good to have it on DVD. Well worth having and highly recommended.

Ub Iwerks's Flip the Frog series of cartoons was short-lived, only lasting from 1930 to 1933. On the most part the Flip the Frog cartoons are not great or cartoon/animated masterpieces and it is sort of understandable as to why Flip didn't make it bigger. However they are far from terrible ones either and do hold some interest, some are actually pretty decent and more.

Despite not being historically significant like 'Fiddlesticks' was, 'What a Life' for me is above average and enjoyable. Not quite one of the best Flip the Frog cartoons but far from being one of the worst. It is not a great cartoon, though a good one, and has faults but there are things here that improve quite a bit and done much better than many other Flip the Frog cartoons.

A lot of good things in 'What a Life'. The animation is very good, with beautifully detailed backgrounds, nice shading and characters that aren't drawn too crudely. The music makes even more of an impact, it is lushly and cleverly orchestrated, full of lively energy and not only adds brilliantly to the action it enhances it.

There are more than enough sight gags, and they are surprisingly funny on the most part. There is a nice natural charm, a lot of zesty energy and there are touching parts. Really liked the lively support and there is a discernible story that while slight is engaging and amiable.

However, still don't find Flip the most compelling or personality-filled lead characters.

'What a Life' also doesn't quite escape the trap of falling into sentimentality and a little more variety wouldn't have gone amiss.

All in all, good. 7/10 Bethany Cox