Boat Builders (1938)

Dreadfully Boring

a film so unique, intoxicating and bizarre that it not only demands another viewing, but is also forgivable as a satirical comedy where the jokes eventually take the back seat.

Each character in this movie — down to the smallest one — is an individual rather than a type, prone to spontaneous changes of mood and sometimes amusing outbursts of pettiness or ill humor.

The storyline feels a little thin and moth-eaten in parts but this sequel is plenty of fun.

MADE DURING WHAT was probably the zenith of the Mickey/Donald/Goofy stint as the Disney Studios' answer to the screen comedy team. The beauty of the shorts were indeed becoming a victim to their own achievement; as well as providing a springboard to the up and coming succession of full length animated features. (SNOW WHITE, PINNOCHOIO, FANTASIA, BAMBI, DUMBO, etc.) MUCH LIKE SO many other entries in the series, the premise is at once both simple yet somehow quite brilliant in its execution. The "plot" of such a short calls for each of the comic threesome starts out together and shares several other sight-gag laden scenes. The action typically gives two sequences each to the three individually.AS FOR THE unique aspects of this entry, it lies in the tranquility generated by a seascape (even an artificial & animated one). Never has "Going Down To The Sea In Ships" has never done in such surroundings, being rendered in the most richly hued Technicolor filming imaginable.AS IS THE norm, the short ends up with the protagonists no further ahead in their construction of the boat from model-type kit. And it is this that leaves our comic trio of on screen heroes ready to fight another day.

This is a classic Disney cartoon featuring all of Mickey, Donald, Goofy and Minnie. The former three buys a boat kit and attempts to build a gigantic ship out of the it - it's like buying the parts and building a miniature model. But here, in funny cartoon style, the three characters decide to christen the ship after completion of the assembling and take it out to sea.While assembling the ship, Mickey, Donald and Goofy meet all sorts of weird mishaps, from a rolled-up plank deck that won't cooperate to Goofy taking the boat's statue for a real woman who adores him. It really sends some good laughs your way and it's definitely very entertaining. You're in for huge laughs when the ending of the cartoon comes and Minnie gives the green light for the ship to sail! Grade A

This is a Mickey Mouse color short featuring Donald and Goofy. There will be spoilers ahead:As with virtually every Disney produced short, the animation here is generally excellent. The premise is basic and the results are predictable. What makes these cartoons work is the gags and the animation. You know at the outset that things won't end well for our heroes. It's just exactly what's going to go wrong that you wait for.The three decide to build a boat from a kit. All they need to do is assemble the parts. Much easier said than done. From the first step (unpacking the keel and ribs) the three are clearly in way over their heads.The chief problem is clearly a failure to communicate, as the three seem to be working in complete and blissful ignorance of what the other two are doing. This results in two of the funniest sequences, where Mickey plays havoc with Donald as he tests out the wheel while Donald is trying to paint the rudder and then later, when Goofy uncrates the mermaid which serves as decoration and Mickey carries her off and Goofy thinks the mermaid is flirtatiously playing a game with him. The results are less than pretty.The end is very funny even when you know what's going to happen. So don't book your space on their boat just yet, as they have a few kinks to work out at this point.This short is on the Disney Treasures Mickey Mouse In Living Color DVD release and is well worth seeking out. Recommended.

*****Some Spoilers******When I saw Meet The Robinsons I saw this little fun short with it. I actually quite enjoyed this, but to be frank, I like Steamboat Willie .0001% better. Still, this is fun and a prime example of how simple things could and would be back in the twenties and thirties.Here is the basis. Mickey Mouse, Daffy Duck, and Goofy are back again for another task. This time they are building a huge Titanic-like ship. The only problem is that they are not the best boat builders in the world, especially Goofy. Mayhem occurs throughout their attempt to make a good ship. Here is the real question though. Can they possibly pull it off?Overall, this is a good short. It is actually one of the best shorts before a Pixar film that I have ever seen. It is enjoyable, and trust me, you will get a kick out of it. Anyway, this is good, clean fun.9/10Recommended Shorts: Steamboat Willie.