Mouse Wreckers (1949)

Self-important, over-dramatic, uninspired.

It is interesting even when nothing much happens, which is for most of its 3-hour running time. Read full review

This movie tries so hard to be funny, yet it falls flat every time. Just another example of recycled ideas repackaged with women in an attempt to appeal to a certain audience.

Strong acting helps the film overcome an uncertain premise and create characters that hold our attention absolutely.

The Hubie and Bertie cartoons are not many, but they are all worth a look at least once and are worthy of more attention. Personally am in total agreement that their best is 'Mouse Wreckers', with 'Cheese Chasers' a close second.Like with what was said in my review of 'Cheese Chasers', the animation in 'Mouse Wreckers' is excellent. Attention to detail is meticulous, the colours are rich and vibrant and the characters are designed in a way that's distinctively Chuck Jones. The animation in the ceiling trick gag is marvellously inventive and is a huge part of that gag's success.As always, Carl Stalling's music does not disappoint and demonstrates why he has always been my personal favourite of the regular Looney Tunes composers. Orchestration is clever, rich and luscious, the energy, character and appropriately dark atmosphere are evident throughout and it not only fits with what's going on but adds to it.'Mouse Wreckers' is the most relentlessly cruel of the series, though the cartoon's dark and somewhat sadistic edge is not done too much and not done to stomach churning effect, but also the funniest, the rope and climactic gags being especially hilarious.Hubie and Bertie are lively and appealing characters, with great comic coming and provide a bold twist to the cat and mouse partnership, while Claude is an antagonistic character that's menacing, at other times amusing and one that one feels somewhat sorry for. Flawless vocals too from Mel Blanc and Stan Freberg, Blanc particularly sounding like he was enjoying himself thoroughly.In conclusion, wonderful and Hubie and Bertie at their best. 10/10 Bethany Cox

Mouse Wreckers (1948) ** 1/2 (out of 4) Mice Bertie and Hubie come to their new home when they notice Claude the Cat, the best mouse catcher out there, is staying there. Together the two try to make Claude think he's crazy so that he'll move out. This here is a minor cartoon that makes for one great ending but everything before it is rather dull and bland. All of the "tricks" being done to the cat are rather blandly done and for the life of me I could never believe that the cat would be dumb enough to think everything that was happening was only a dream. A dumb cat would have fallen for this but apparently this one was a great one so I don't buy it. The ending is terrific as the cat thinks he's in an upside-down room. The payoff to this sequence is enough of a reason to watch the film.

Chuck Jones's Hubie and Bertie shorts generally worked with darker material and 'Mouse Wreckers' was no exception. A relentlessly cruel cartoon, it involves the attempts of two mice to convince an unwitting cat that he is mentally ill. Hiding up a chimney, Hubie and Bertie subject the cat to various ordeals that rudely awaken him from his slumber. Starting small, these pranks build up to an inspired sequence involving an upside down room which just gets more and more confusing. The cartoon ends with the mice taking over the house as the cat cowers in a tree, driven completely insane. Jones's was a master at drawing out the comedy from these morbid scenarios and he manages to make an hilarious film which has a constant sense of unease without leaving a bad taste. The concept of actually having the mice as the bad guys and the cat as a manipulated innocent was a bold and brilliant move. It's worth noting that Jones remade 'Mouse Wreckers' as a Tom and Jerry cartoon named 'Year of the Mouse'. Although I'm not hugely fond of the majority of Chuck Jones's Tom and Jerry shorts, 'Year of the Mouse' is actually fantastic and, in many ways, improves on 'Mouse Wreckers' by making the scenarios more horrifically violent and the ending more satisfyingly just.

Mice Hubie and Bertie attempt to drive Claude, the cat of the house, and an award winning mouse catcher to boot, insane in order to make him leave the house that they want to move into. They go about this in a series of complex, yet hysterical ways. This is my favorite short with the two mice, with it's sequel, "Cheese Chasers" a very close second. This Oscar nominated animated short can be seen on Disc 2 of the Looney Tunes Golden Collection Volume 2. It also features an optional commentary by Greg Ford that is a fairly good, insightful listen as well.My Grade: A