'Popeye': Epic or epically bad? At least Shelley Duvall is genius
The Robert Altman directed Popeye movie from 1980 starring Shelley Duvall and Robin Williams is an abysmal film. Paramount and Disney partnered up to create the worst musical picture with the worst soundtrack in film history. That did not stop it from being the 12 highest grossing film in 1980 with almost $50 million. It also did not stop it from featuring two great scenes and a smart performance from Duvall.
The opening sequence, the people of Sweethaven sing their national anthem as Popeye rows ashore. The opening act features Bill Irwin trying to pick up his hat. He goes farther and farther down the street never able to quite grab his headgear until he decides to pounce on it. Irwin has a couple of other gags involving physical humor, which are funny and do not require special effects.
When Popeye finally meets his dad Pappy, they have an argument about spinach that is the funniest part of the whole film. The back and forth between the two of them is great comedy. Throughout the film, there are plenty of moments of comedy if you like puns and can concentrate on Robin Williams mumbling while simultaneously deciphering his Popeye accent.
The clincher is that for all of Olive Oyl’s poor character qualities and gangly makeup, Duvall was the best actress a casting agent could find to fill Oyl’s rather sizable shoes. The performance that Duvall gives in this film is genius. She plays Olive just as if she were the cartoon character, and it is amazing what Duvall can do with the two-dimensional Oyl. Her singing voice is terrible, but it fits in with the previous incarnations of the character that the voice is exactly as it should be.
This might be one of those films that is so bad it is good. It is certainly on par with Sharknado as far as absurdity and stars for the ‘80s. Popeye received a PG rating for its comic violence and use of swear words.
Filmed in Malta, the Popeye sets have been turned into a tourist attraction, which by most accounts is great for children even if they haven’t seen the movie.
Read about my visit to Popeye Village
The opening sequence, the people of Sweethaven sing their national anthem as Popeye rows ashore. The opening act features Bill Irwin trying to pick up his hat. He goes farther and farther down the street never able to quite grab his headgear until he decides to pounce on it. Irwin has a couple of other gags involving physical humor, which are funny and do not require special effects.
When Popeye finally meets his dad Pappy, they have an argument about spinach that is the funniest part of the whole film. The back and forth between the two of them is great comedy. Throughout the film, there are plenty of moments of comedy if you like puns and can concentrate on Robin Williams mumbling while simultaneously deciphering his Popeye accent.
The clincher is that for all of Olive Oyl’s poor character qualities and gangly makeup, Duvall was the best actress a casting agent could find to fill Oyl’s rather sizable shoes. The performance that Duvall gives in this film is genius. She plays Olive just as if she were the cartoon character, and it is amazing what Duvall can do with the two-dimensional Oyl. Her singing voice is terrible, but it fits in with the previous incarnations of the character that the voice is exactly as it should be.
This might be one of those films that is so bad it is good. It is certainly on par with Sharknado as far as absurdity and stars for the ‘80s. Popeye received a PG rating for its comic violence and use of swear words.
Filmed in Malta, the Popeye sets have been turned into a tourist attraction, which by most accounts is great for children even if they haven’t seen the movie.
Read about my visit to Popeye Village