Popeye (1980)

Nothing interests filmmaker Robert Altman more than a contained culture that mixes bare humanity with local eccentricity (think of his M*A*S*H and Nashville). So Altman's Popeye (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. --Tom Keogh Amazon.com

Use Subtitles So You Don't Miss Any Of The Funny Lines

Glad I Finally Got Around To Viewing This
I had known of this film for a long time but did not realize it was a musical, nor that it was so entertaining. Most of the music was done in short segments and the songs were decent. None were excellent, but none were awful, either.

Popeye was fun to hear. Robin Williams had the famous sailor's mumbling down to a tee. I suggest you watch this with the English subtitles on so you can get all of what Popeye says, or you'll miss a lot of funny lines. The same can almost be said of Shelly Duvall's impersonation of "Olive Oyl," although you can understand her better. She, too, was fun to watch. I read somewhere that she was very depressed over her performance in this film, but she shouldn't have been. She was perfect for the role.

I didn't think the supporting characters were much, such as Bluto or Wimpy, but Popeye's dad, "Poopdeck Pappy," (Ray Walston) who appears late in the film is a real hoot. "Pappy" adds a lot of spark and energy to the film, just when it was really needed.

Overall, it's a nice, pleasing type of film. It's no award-winner, but it's a lot better than what you might have read from national critics. If you like Popeye's cartoons and comics, you should like this film, too. I would gladly watch this again. November 23, 2008

Brilliant

I watched this as a kid and now have children of my own. We watched it again last night. I must say that this film is brilliant. In the hype of contemporary special effects, over acted and over sung musicals, this film somehow captures the flavor of the cartoons, yet builds its own characters. I was hooked as a kid, and now my own kids are asking to watch it again. It is clean, morals are taught, well acted, music is on spot for the purpose. Very much a classic - Williams and Duvall are excellent. I have been watching movies for all my life - I very much enjoy them, but I have not been so pleased after a movie in years. November 8, 2008

The Sailor Man with the Spinach Can!

Director Robert Altman takes a playful route in the musical comedy of this famous cartoon character, his pals and adversaries.

Robin Williams - in his movie debut - is brilliantly funny as Popeye. with Olive Oyl portrayed very well by Shelley Duvall. And Popeye is a "hit" in Sweethaven; he defeats a gang of punks in J. Wellington Wimpy's (Paul Dooley) burger bar, puts a stop to the schemes of a greedy tax-man and defeats a champion - but rules-breaking -boxer. But it's the confrontations with the tough Bluto (Paul L. Smith) that will define the life of the Sailor Man.

In an animated cartoon slide to start the film, Popeye blurts out, "Hey! What is this, another one of Bluto's tricks?! I'm in the wrong movie!" No tricks here and there are plenty of treats in this vastly underrated film. October 20, 2008

Popeye

I've loved the movie "Popeye" for a very long time and I am giving it as a present to someone that I know will love it too. October 9, 2008

One of the worst movies ever made

I kept thinking, "how could i destroy this DVD?" Robin Williams makes the perfect Popeye and Shelly Duvall the perfect Olive Oyl but man oh man is this bad. October 2, 2008

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