The Lonesome Mouse (1943)

A different way of telling a story

Blending excellent reporting and strong storytelling, this is a disturbing film truly stranger than fiction

Story: It's very simple but honestly that is fine.

Through painfully honest and emotional moments, the movie becomes irresistibly relatable

"The Lonesome Mouse" is an 8-minute cartoon from 1943, the days of World War II, so this one will have its 75th anniversary next year. The title as well as the inclusion of Hanna and Barbera shows you this is another little Tom & Jerry movie, actually one of the more known ones even. Early on, Tom causes a lot of mayhem again in his desperately unsuccessful attempts to catch Jerry, so his owner finally has enough and throws him out of the house. Tom is mad, Jerry is bored, so the duo unite to get him inside again and prove to the owner that he is needed there. The plan works out and Tom is welcomed back quickly. The two are happy until a delicious cake gets in the way of their friendship. I personally did not enjoy the watch too much. Idea is okay, but the story and animation jokes weren't that creative or memorable here. I had more fun watching other T&J shorts and I have to give this one a thumbs-down. Probably only known for how different it is because it's not particularly good.

This is not one of the better Tom and Jerry cartoons, but it is a reasonable one. The plot is very simple yet predictable, and there are times when the art work isn't as good as it could have been.However, there are some really inspired visual gags, such as Tom and Jerry poking Mammy Two Shoes in the bottom with a knife and fork, the "Hitler" joke, Mammy Two Shoes dropping several items like false teeth in fear and the end when Tom "double-crosses" Jerry. I also liked Jerry singing "Happy Days are here again" and his really cute and funny facial expressions. And very briefly, Tom and Jerry speak, personally I didn't find that a problem as it was brief. Asides from the gags, another outstanding component was the music, it was a lot of fun and very playful.Overall, not absolutely brilliant, but worth seeing. It's Tom and Jerry, what's not to like? 8/10 Bethany Cox

There was a lesson to this story, one of those "you don't miss what you have until you lose it" or "the grass is always greener on the other side," etc. However you phrase it, Jerry discovers he'd rather have Tom chasing him around the house than no Tom at all. He misses the excitement.He doesn't think so in the beginning, "framing" our cat and having "Mammy Two Shoes" boot him out of the house for breaking a vase which Jerry broke. While the devilish mouse is singing "Happy Days Are Here Again," in a few days he winds up bored out of his mind and wishing Tom was back in the house.Finally, he goes out to Tom across the street and they concoct a plan to get him back into the good graces of "Mammy," so he can get his warm home back. This isn't hilarious but there are enough gags in here plus a rarity: hearing the two main characters speak English briefly - to definitely warrant watching this. Some of the facial expressions of Jerry made me really laugh. It was "cute" and funny at the same time. This was part of the Tom and Jerry Spotlight Collection Volume Two DVD.

This has a lot of noteworthy points. First, it's a cartoon featuring Mammy Two-Shoes. Second, as a short made during World War II, there is a visual political joke in the early going. Third, and most significantly, the two stars speak, something generally avoided, for good reason, the characters are funnier and less complicated silent. There is a nice touch of enlightened self-interest, when Jerry helps Tom get back inside, because he finds life less exciting without the mayhem. The temporary truce/partnership ends when gluttony rears its porcine head. But that's okay-there has to be a rivalry, doesn't there? That's the whole point to this one in the first place! Very good short and worth watching. Recommended.