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Year One
Stars indicate the most critically-acclaimed movies.
Popeye
Mixed or average reviews
Based on 7 critic reviews
How did we calculate this?
Based on 2 votes
Read user comments
Rate this movie >
Movie Info
Genre(s): Comedy | Family/Kids | Musical | Romance
Written by:
E.C. Segar (comic strip Thimble Theatre)
Jules Feiffer
Directed by: Robert Altman
Release Date:
Theatrical: December 12, 1980
DVD: June 24, 2003
Running Time: 114 minutes, Color
Origin: USA
Summary
RATING: PG for adult language and violence
Starring Robin Williams, Shelley Duvall, Ray Walston, Paul Dooley, Paul L. Smith, and Wesley Ivan Hurt
The cartoon comes to the big screen as mysterious Popeye the Sailorman docks in Sweethaven where he falls for Olive Oyl, fights with Bluto and becomes a mama to "infankt" Sweetpea.
Also On The Web: Internet Movie Database
What The Critics Said
All critic scores are converted to a 100-point scale. If a critic does not indicate a score, we assign a score based on the general impression given by the text of the review. Learn more...
Chicago Sun-Times Roger Ebert
It's clear that this movie has an affection for Popeye, and so much regard for the sailor man that it even bothers to reveal the real truth about his opinion of spinach.
Read Full Review >Boston Globe Bruce McCabe
One of the major problems facing Hollywood today is the lack of will and energy to make movies that can charm youngsters without boring their parents. Popeye is an important contribution toward the solution. It's not a sophisticated film. But it's a gratifyingly engaging one. [12 Dec 1980, p.1]
The New York Times Vincent Canby
Miss Duvall is superb - genteely ladylike one minute, a woman of volcanic passions the next.
Read Full Review >Variety Staff (Not Credited)
It is more than faint praise to say that Popeye is far, far better than it might have been, considering the treacherous challenge it presented. But avoiding disaster is not necessarily the same as success.
Read Full Review >TV Guide Staff (Not Credited)
The film's real star is its magnificent set (filmed and constructed in Malta), though Williams manages to screw up his face and eye in a credible imitation of the drawings, and Duvall is perfect as the gangly Olive Oyl.
Read Full Review >Chicago Reader Dave Kehr
Robert Altman's busy, detailed mise-en-scene, flattened cartoon-style through space-compacting long lenses, does capture some of the frenetic atmosphere of the Fleischer cartoons, but it tends to crowd out, and neutralize, the story values.
Read Full Review >The Globe and Mail (Toronto) Jay Scott
A shamelessly commercial and determinedly vulgar director, such as Flash Gordon's Mike Hodges, might have made the film work; it might have succeeded on one level instead of failing on many. [13 Dec 1980, p.E7]
What Our Users Said
The average user rating for this movie is 4.0 (out of 10) based on 2 User Votes
Note: User votes are NOT included in the Metascore calculation.
Anna R. gave it an8:
I like this film. I smile from beginning to end. It looks brilliant and it evokes the cartoon faithfully. It's a kids film that makes an adult happy. I don't know if Popeye can sweet talk today's kids, as I don't know if the cartoon is still on telly.
