Word: altmans
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Dates: during 1980-1989
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ALMOST FIFTY YEARS after the first Popeye cartoon, director Robert Altman and cartoonist-author-screenwriter Jules Feiffer have adapted the sailor to another medium--that of the musical-comedy feature film--using real people instead of animated figures. When such heavies team up with a talent like manic Robin Williams to interpret a piece of American folklore, the result ought to transcend the original material. Instead, they produce a faithful if restrained reproduction of the cartoon version--and somewhat of a disappointment...
...Altman has gathered together the whole crew of crazy caricatures and shipped them off to the ramshackle town of Sweethaven. In residence, there are the Oyls, most notably Olive, Popeye's confused and confusing "sweet pattootie"; Swee'pea, Popeye's mischievous "adoptik infink"; the villainous, animal-like Bluto; J. Wellington Wimpy, the hamburger moocher; Rough-House, the short-order cook; Geezil, a boarder at the Oyls; and Poopdeck Pappy, Popeye's long-lost father. Several other bizarre characters skulk about having no apparent role other than adding to the absurdity...
...singing and dancing pass muster. What seems curiously lacking is evidence of Williams' brilliant gift for improvisation. Glimmers shine through occasionally, as when Popeye throws a tantrum because he doesn't want to eat his spinach. Williams, television's "Mork," also contributes a few one-liners, but Altman never turns him loose...
...remarkable resemblance to the original Olive. Tall and awkward, her loose outfit and clodhoppers emphasize her rubber-legged shapelessness; the wishy-washy, quavering voice ring true. The other characters are instantly recognizable--but that's it. Comic-strip depth does not suffice for a full-length movie. Swee'pea (Altman's grandchild, incidentally) is an exception--a uniquely expressive and, of course, cute baby...
...attempt to transfer Popeye from the cartoons to the movies might have been doomed from the start. After all, why bother having people do what animated figures do better? Moreover, no movie can keep up with the breakneck pace of a cartoon. Yet Altman seems to have all the ingredients for a blockbuster film. He succeeds in creating a busy visual and auditory atmosphere, but he fails to take advantage of his opportunity for free play on several levels. As just two examples, he throws in a few bits of scatological humor, and completely avoids using the Popeye story...