Making Good (1932)
11 Apr 1932 • Animation, Short • 0h 8m
Despite Oswald the Lucky Rabbit and his cartoons being popular and well received at the time, they have been vastly overshadowed over time by succeeding animation characters. It is a shame as, while not cartoon masterpieces, they are fascinating for anybody wanting to see what very old animation looked like.Apart from misfiring with the mediocre 'Wins Out', the 1932 batch of Oswald cartoons so far have been quite promising, with 'Grandma's Pet' and 'Beau and Arrows' being particularly good. The 1932 batch of Oswald cartoons has real potential to be of a much better standard than the mostly disappointing one of the 1931 batch (where only six, 'Country School', 'The Farmer', 'Radio Rhythm', 'The Bandmaster', 'The Hunter' and 'Wonderland', were above average or more).'Making Good' is not as good as 'Grandma's Pet', 'Beau and Arrows' and 'Mechanical Man' but it isn't the mediocre cartoon that was 'Wins Out'. There is not much special or exceptional about 'Making Good', at the same time it hardly has lots of massive flaws. Decent and just about above average, if not much more.The story may lack originality (not a new premise and has been done with more imagination and consistent humour elsewhere) as well as being very thin on the ground and forward momentum isn't always there. A few of the gags are a little on the childish side and it ends on a little bit of an odd note.However, 'Making Good' does do a good deal right. It is the animation that is the bright spot here. It may occasionally lack refinement, but most of it is smooth and detailed with Oswald's movements, gestures and expressions still very much natural, like the generally freer, more elaborate and faster look of a good deal of Oswald cartoons at this time. Drawing has occasional crudeness but is mostly fine and transitions don't feel as choppy and incomplete as some of the worst Oswald cartoons.Music is another strength. It has an energetic nature, fits well and is dynamic with the action, then again the music is nearly always good in the Oswald cartoons. Synchronisation is good.Oswald is endearing and fun to watch and the stork is amusing enough. The gags are mostly fun and mostly raise a good chuckle or more.All in all, above average if not a whole lot special. 6/10 Bethany Cox
Director
Writer
Starring
Language:
English
Awards:
Country:
United States
Metacritic Score:
DVD Release Date:
Box Office Total: