Simply Perfect

This story has more twists and turns than a second-rate soap opera.

This is a coming of age storyline that you've seen in one form or another for decades. It takes a truly unique voice to make yet another one worth watching.

There are moments in this movie where the great movie it could've been peek out... They're fleeting, here, but they're worth savoring, and they happen often enough to make it worth your while.

Wood-Peckin' (1943) *** (out of 4)Popeye is in need of some wood so he heads out to the forest to cut down a tree a runs into a woodpecker who doesn't like his plan.If you're a fan of the Popeye series then you're bound to enjoy this one since there's plenty of fast action as well as some good humor as well. There are several funny moments in this episode but the highlight has to be a sequence where the woodpecker decides to destroy Popeye's boat. As you'd expect, the animation is quite excellent and the fast-paced nature keeps it entertaining.

Popeye needs wood to make a mast for a boat he's building. finds a good-looking tree and begins to chop it down when a woodpecker, who lives in he tree, naturally objects....and the battle is on.The woodpecker gives us his impression of Edward G. Robinson, complete with all the "see's" at the end of sentences. ("Listen, you mugs: it's all worth fighting for, see?")Some of it is pretty funny. For environmentalists this cartoon will be a nightmare as many trees are chopped down, a good share of them inadvertently. There are tons of sight gags in here, so you just pick and choose what you like. It's pretty frenetic.

This is a rarely seen Popeye short that deserves more than it has received. Popeye,who has built himself a brand new boat needs a mast for the sails. He manages to find a fine tree that'll do the job nicely. The only problem is that there's a rather snide woodpecker (who sounds a lot like James Cagney) living in the tree that makes the job of cutting down said such tree a challenge. Jack Mercer wears three hats in this breezy little short as voice overs for Popeye,the woodpecker,and a pelican (sounding a lot like Goofy). Some beautiful animation,and a well written script makes this sadly overlooked short a delight to check out. Sometimes on display on Boomerang's late Saturday night/Sunday morning animation block, 'Late Night Black & White' (check your local listings for cable channel/server & time).