Despite their quite low ratings (then again some of the Ant and the Aardvark cartoons are low rated and they are some of the best cartoons DePatie-Freleng did), to me while they had some big problems the previous two cartoons 'Kloot's Kounty' and 'Apache on the County Seat' were above average efforts (more the former than the latter though). Expectations were not sky high for 'The Shoe Must Go On', despite liking Hoot Kloot and Fester as characters the plot on paper is not a particularly inspired one at all which made me think "is this going to be good or dull?"
'The Shoe Must Go On' turned out in my view to be watchable and has a good deal of good things that are the same as before actually. It is though a not particularly good cartoon, when ranking the Hoot Kloot series it's around low middle, it does have its dull stretches and it sadly was as relatively uninspired as it sounded. 'The Shoe Must Go On' is worth a one time look for those that want to see all the Hoot Kloot cartoons and all of DePatie-Freleng Enterprises' theatrical series, but to me it's not an essential and is not one of those repeat viewing cartoons. Actually have seen it more than once to be fair to it and was lukewarm on it each time.
Although 'The Shoe Must Go On' has issues, it does have pluses too. The animation is simple but strikingly so, and although there is a lack of finesse in the character designs this is more than made up for in the rich colours and suitably abstract backgrounds. The music is full of character, has so much rhythmic energy and has a real Wild West vibe to it. Again, 'The Shoe Must Go On' does well at poking fun at Western genre conventions so other cartoons in the series had fresher execution on this front.
Hoot Kloot's loudmouth personality doesn't overbear things too much and he has such a great larger than life presence for someone so small. Fester is a very funny and likeable character and the two delight in their chemistry together. Bob Holt contrasts Hoot Kloot's brashness and Fester's Walter Brennan-like tones beautifully and there are some amusing lines.
Did feel however that the gags weren't as funny, there could have been more of them and they tend to feel a little on the tired side. The story could have had a much tighter pace, as it is dull at times, and been fresher more creative, rather than executing familiar ground too safely and with a lack of variety.
Pacing never properly comes to life and has a routine feel throughout. There is not really all that much to the conflict, which was predictable and pretty bland.
In conclusion, watchable but pretty average. 5/10
'The Shoe Must Go On' turned out in my view to be watchable and has a good deal of good things that are the same as before actually. It is though a not particularly good cartoon, when ranking the Hoot Kloot series it's around low middle, it does have its dull stretches and it sadly was as relatively uninspired as it sounded. 'The Shoe Must Go On' is worth a one time look for those that want to see all the Hoot Kloot cartoons and all of DePatie-Freleng Enterprises' theatrical series, but to me it's not an essential and is not one of those repeat viewing cartoons. Actually have seen it more than once to be fair to it and was lukewarm on it each time.
Although 'The Shoe Must Go On' has issues, it does have pluses too. The animation is simple but strikingly so, and although there is a lack of finesse in the character designs this is more than made up for in the rich colours and suitably abstract backgrounds. The music is full of character, has so much rhythmic energy and has a real Wild West vibe to it. Again, 'The Shoe Must Go On' does well at poking fun at Western genre conventions so other cartoons in the series had fresher execution on this front.
Hoot Kloot's loudmouth personality doesn't overbear things too much and he has such a great larger than life presence for someone so small. Fester is a very funny and likeable character and the two delight in their chemistry together. Bob Holt contrasts Hoot Kloot's brashness and Fester's Walter Brennan-like tones beautifully and there are some amusing lines.
Did feel however that the gags weren't as funny, there could have been more of them and they tend to feel a little on the tired side. The story could have had a much tighter pace, as it is dull at times, and been fresher more creative, rather than executing familiar ground too safely and with a lack of variety.
Pacing never properly comes to life and has a routine feel throughout. There is not really all that much to the conflict, which was predictable and pretty bland.
In conclusion, watchable but pretty average. 5/10
