Love animation, it was a big part of my life as a child, particularly Disney, Looney Tunes and Tom and Jerry, and still love it whether it's film, television or cartoons.
Featuring the ever likeable Porky Pig and directed by Bob Clampett and Norm McCabe, 'Porky's Snooze Reel' is not among the best representations of Porky or either director. It hardly disgraces them either. In fact, while very corny, silly and some familiarity of what is being parodied perhaps being in order it's enjoyable stuff. Porky is as always likeable and has some amusing moments and interaction, but he does play second fiddle to the stories and subjects in the newsreels.
Both Clampett and McCabe do solid work here on 'Porky's Snooze Reel', keeping it at a lively pace and keeping it visually interesting with a little wildness. Was very worried as to whether very different directing approaches would work, but seeing as this is pretty tame for Clampett it doesn't jar as one would fear.
The newsreels themselves are pure corn but they are also very funny and also informative in a way. The way they're parodied is done to highly entertaining and witty effect.
Mel Blanc is outstanding as always however. He always was the infinitely more preferable voice for Porky, Joe Dougherty never clicked with me, and he proves it here. Blanc shows an unequalled versatility and ability to bring an individual personality to every one of his multiple characters in a vast majority of his work, there is no wonder why he was in such high demand as a voice actor.
Robert C. Bruce was famous for providing narration that entertained and educated, not the telling-the-story kind that Sterling Holloway for Disney was famous for, without being over-explanatory or distracting. This is especially true in the "How To" Goofy series for Disney. He does the narration here, and it has all the qualities that he brought to that series of cartoons with aplomb and better than anyone.
The animation is excellent, it's fluid in movement, crisp in shading and very meticulous in detail. There is lots of energy and the cartoon is never less than amusing, even if the hilarious heights are not often reached.
Ever the master, Carl Stalling's music is typically superb. It is as always lushly orchestrated, full of lively energy and characterful in rhythm, not only adding to the action but also enhancing it.
Altogether, good fun and not a snooze. 7/10 Bethany Cox
Featuring the ever likeable Porky Pig and directed by Bob Clampett and Norm McCabe, 'Porky's Snooze Reel' is not among the best representations of Porky or either director. It hardly disgraces them either. In fact, while very corny, silly and some familiarity of what is being parodied perhaps being in order it's enjoyable stuff. Porky is as always likeable and has some amusing moments and interaction, but he does play second fiddle to the stories and subjects in the newsreels.
Both Clampett and McCabe do solid work here on 'Porky's Snooze Reel', keeping it at a lively pace and keeping it visually interesting with a little wildness. Was very worried as to whether very different directing approaches would work, but seeing as this is pretty tame for Clampett it doesn't jar as one would fear.
The newsreels themselves are pure corn but they are also very funny and also informative in a way. The way they're parodied is done to highly entertaining and witty effect.
Mel Blanc is outstanding as always however. He always was the infinitely more preferable voice for Porky, Joe Dougherty never clicked with me, and he proves it here. Blanc shows an unequalled versatility and ability to bring an individual personality to every one of his multiple characters in a vast majority of his work, there is no wonder why he was in such high demand as a voice actor.
Robert C. Bruce was famous for providing narration that entertained and educated, not the telling-the-story kind that Sterling Holloway for Disney was famous for, without being over-explanatory or distracting. This is especially true in the "How To" Goofy series for Disney. He does the narration here, and it has all the qualities that he brought to that series of cartoons with aplomb and better than anyone.
The animation is excellent, it's fluid in movement, crisp in shading and very meticulous in detail. There is lots of energy and the cartoon is never less than amusing, even if the hilarious heights are not often reached.
Ever the master, Carl Stalling's music is typically superb. It is as always lushly orchestrated, full of lively energy and characterful in rhythm, not only adding to the action but also enhancing it.
Altogether, good fun and not a snooze. 7/10 Bethany Cox
