These later Tom & Jerry shorts directed by Abe Levitow all have a snappy, bright feel to them. They're excessively sound tracked in a way that today sounds a bit dated, but if you give it a chance, it's fun and brisk, and I always feel giddy when Tom goes *spat!* against something hard and the music plays a loud, jazzy "foo-whou-wow!" There's no real plot here -- Tom wants to surf but is repeatedly thwarted by some silly obstacle. The funniest one here is the starfish stuck to Tom's head that has its own expressions as well as complimenting Tom's. Yeah, it's not as good as the T&Js from the 40's, but it's cute and clever and very colorful, and a fun way to pass 6 minutes of your life.
6 Reviews
It isn't as good as the earlier Tom and Jerry cartoons but it is better than the rating suggests
TheLittleSongbird15 June 2010
I wouldn't dare call this the best Tom and Jerry cartoon, because it isn't. It isn't even one of the better Tom and Jerry cartoons, but there are much worse, especially Switchin' Kitten and Carmen Get It! The animation I had mixed feelings on, there are some nice colourful backgrounds, but the characters especially Tom are drawn in a somewhat odd way. The story isn't always as engaging as it could have been, and the pacing isn't as secure. However, the music is wonderful and due to the clever gags it is very funny.
So overall, it is not a complete waste of time, but on the other hand it is not exceptional either. 7/10 Bethany Cox
So overall, it is not a complete waste of time, but on the other hand it is not exceptional either. 7/10 Bethany Cox
The final days
Horst_In_Translation13 August 2015
Warning: Spoilers
By 1967, the greatest days of Tom & Jerry, the world's most famous cat and mouse duo were long over. They won several academy Awards in their prime, but everything has to end at some point. This 6-minute cartoon here has Tom and Jerry at the beach and they (especially Tom) want to surf and enjoy the sun. Unfortunately Tom runs into some dangerous obstacles while on the board. The looks were pretty much fine I must say. Tom had his stray cat look and acts a bit more crazy than usual. Jerry is a cute little rascal as always. Unfortunately, the two do rarely interact in this one here and the jokes aren't very funny either. Bob Ogle worked on some actually really famous animation scripts back then, but he cannot deliver here. The legendary Mel Blanc does the voice acting, which is fairly unusual as with Tom & Jerry he has not been that prolific really I think. I personally recommend to watch some of the old classics instead of this one.
one of the best of jones' cartoons
jonasjuozaponis7 July 2014
Surf-bored cat right from the beginning looks really good. The only bad thing i can say about the animation is that Tom still looks quite odd (as with most Jones' cartoons). There are some nice sight gags (the one with the gravestone was really nice and creative). Tom is a cocky bastard in this one, but you still have to like him. It's probably the only time, when i liked the shark character, he was quite funny. By far the best thing about this cartoon is the amazing music by Dean Eliott. It's the best music i've ever heard from T&J cartoon. I like it so much that when I was a kid, I remember listening to it for hours ( i barely even watched the cartoon). It isn't a masterpiece, because it's way too short (barely passes 6 minutes) and as i've said Tom looks odd. Anyway, one of Jones' best!
And we're into the home straight
BA_Harrison30 May 2017
The surfing craze was big in the '60s so naturally Tom and Jerry, desperate to retain a fan-base, wanted a piece of the action. In Surf-Bored Cat, T&J take a cruise to a tropical paradise where the waves are big but so are the sharks.
Yup, it's that bloody shark again, this time trying to chow down on Tom as he catches some swell. I didn't like the badly drawn fish the last couple of times he cropped up and I don't like him here either. In addition to the toothy terror of the deep, Tom also has trouble with a starfish that latches onto the cat's head. Laugh, I almost did.
As with most of director Abe Levitow's Tom and Jerry cartoons, the backgrounds are sketchy, the animation less than great, and the gags predictable.
3.5 out of 10, rounded up to 4 for the twangy surf music.
Yup, it's that bloody shark again, this time trying to chow down on Tom as he catches some swell. I didn't like the badly drawn fish the last couple of times he cropped up and I don't like him here either. In addition to the toothy terror of the deep, Tom also has trouble with a starfish that latches onto the cat's head. Laugh, I almost did.
As with most of director Abe Levitow's Tom and Jerry cartoons, the backgrounds are sketchy, the animation less than great, and the gags predictable.
3.5 out of 10, rounded up to 4 for the twangy surf music.
If there's one thing that cats hate . . .
pixrox115 November 2022
Warning: Spoilers
. . . it's being eaten alive by sharks. Ever since JAWS gulped down that tabby on the smaller boat, felines have been deathly afraid of Mac of the Knife-Edged Teeth. This is why your family cat begins tearing up your car upholstery the instant is smells saltwater. Fortunately, Fluffy is NOT as gifted with scents as much as is Fido. You can actually save your car seats by rubbing a raw onion slice over your tabby's nose on your next trip to the beach. SURF-BORED CAT is another indication of what the Warner replacement crew REALLY thinks of Leo's copycat. After suffering through the grim RHAPSODY RABBIT scandal, which became required reading for all incoming Warner personnel, these latter day Tom & Jerry inheritors take special delight in menacing Tom the copycat with sharks in every other episode.
See also
Awards | FAQ | User Ratings | External Reviews | Metacritic Reviews
