6/10
So-so Porky Pig short. with Porky not doing much-the focus is on a cat
21 November 2006
Warning: Spoilers
This is a black and white Porky Pig short which doesn't really have a whole lot to do with Porky himself. As I want to talk a bit about the cartoon and some of the gags, this is a spoiler warning:

This short has Porky Pig as the proprietor of a pet store which specializes in selling fish. It opens, though, with a cat following a mouse, with the intent of having lunch. Failing (rather unceremoniously) at accomplishing that, the camera then switches to the store and we see Porky break out in song while a bunch of rather marginal fish-related sight gags go by, the best of which involves some electric eels. Then the noon whistle blows and Porky goes out to lunch, placing a sign on the door. The cat, perhaps in the mood for some sushi, seizes the opportunity and goes into the store (turning around Porky's sign, which then reads, "in to lunch" instead.

The bulk of the remainder of the short is the cat attempting to get a free meal and the efforts of the various fish to ruin his appetite for him. Again, the best bit involves the electric eels, though there are very nicely animated sequences involving an oyster, some flying fish and a mussel which figure prominently. While some of the bits are inventive and very funny, a lot of this is just a bit off the mark. The timing seems to be a bit off of a lot of the jokes here, or maybe I just didn't find it funny.

The closing gag, where the cat sees the mouse again and goes after it when denied a fish dinner is fairly nice and a good way to close what is a very uneven short. This is available on the Looney Tunes Golden Collection, Volume 4 and the collection itself is marvelous. This short is certainly worth a look at least once. Worth watching.
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