Popeye

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Buy This Item Popeye by Paramount  Available from Amazon  $9.99  on 11-15-2008     Nothing interests filmmaker Robert Altman more than a contained culture that mixes bare humanity with local eccentricity (think of his <i>M*A*S*H</i> and <i>Nashville</i>). So Altman's <i>Popeye</i> (1980), based on the old comic strip, works best as a portrait of a busy, cluttered, cartoonish town called Sweethaven. But it is much less successful as a comprehensible story about the famous sailor with massive forearms and a relationship with Olive Oyl (Shelley Duvall). Robin Williams plays Popeye with his usual brilliance for mimicry, Paul Dooley makes a credible Wimpy, and Paul L. Smith makes an impression as the oversized bully, Bluto. But this strange, disastrous film never becomes more than an expensive workshop airing out Altmanesque themes. <i>--Tom Keogh</i> Reader Reviews I loved this movie from Day 1 and had made a poor VHS copy from HBO back when they ran it. I was delighted to see that Amazon carried the DVD. It arrived the other day, and I watched it last night. I've never been able to understand the critics' total panning of this film or Robin Williams' apparent shame over his performance. I think the film is fun and Robin's performance very good, along with that of the other members of the cast. Some accolades must go to the set designers,costume designers and, of course, Malta for beautiful scenery. The setting, costumes and characters are surreal, as they perhaps should be when translated from a cartoon. The songs are catchy and humorous, as when Olive sings about Bluto and can say in his favor only that he's large. The satirical "Sweet Sweethaven" is humorous as well. I'm just glad that I checked Amazon to learn that a DVD of "Popeye" was available and that I bought it!

Popeye Available from Amazon Price: $9.99 Updated on 11-15-2008.

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