Popeye (1980)

Featured Audience Ratings

• Tim S

  
  People have tried to dissuade me into believing that Robert Altman's 1980 adaptation of the beloved character and story of Popeye is nothing more than a pure Hollywood fiasco. While I'm sure that there may be some truth to that, I can't honestly say that I really enjoy… More
  People have tried to dissuade me into believing that Robert Altman's 1980 adaptation of the beloved character and story of Popeye is nothing more than a pure Hollywood fiasco. While I'm sure that there may be some truth to that, I can't honestly say that I really enjoy it. Sure there's a pace that doesn't work and a story that isn't as fulfilling as you'd hope it to be, but there's some fun hiding in there. I think Robin Williams does a great job bringing the character to life, but the best performance of the film is Shelley Duvall as Olive Oyl. She was such a perfect choice to play that character and she just pulls it off effortlessly. This is really a live action cartoon, and I like it because of that. It may seem silly and strange at times, but I enjoy it. Watch for an early Dennis Franz during the first big fight scene at the restaurant.

• John H

  
  My god was this bad! It was like watching Carousel if Robin Williams was the main character. It had very little to do with the series of short cartoons. While it does imitate features of a cartoon, Popeye doesn't seem to be what it imitates. The characters are here but the charm… More
  My god was this bad! It was like watching Carousel if Robin Williams was the main character. It had very little to do with the series of short cartoons. While it does imitate features of a cartoon, Popeye doesn't seem to be what it imitates. The characters are here but the charm isn't. Robin Williams tends to sneak in some of his own jokes that I still can barely understand with that corncob pipe in his mouth. I was hoping the songs would at least me cool and catchy. Harry Nilsson has written some of the favorite songs: "One", "Coconut", "Cuddly Toy". These songs are just bad from the lyrics to the singing. Not rememerable at all. The only song I remember other than "Popeye the sailor man..." was Shelly Duvall singing "But he's large". My eyes just boggled. That was one horribly written song and sung horribly too. The plot has got to be the worst though. It almost feels like an origin story of Popeye, but that's not what's bad about it. What is so bad it that Popeye rides his boat into a slum town where everything is taxed...including being taxed. He is rejected by every hotel on town to stay at so he lives with this family that welcomes his...well, the mother welcomes him at least while everyone else gives him the cold shoulder. Bluto intends to marry Oliveoil but she runs away. Popeye stopped in town to look for his father, but his already given up...after one day...the two character cross paths and find an abandoned baby they call their own. No one seems to question how the two got a baby and Popeye and Oliveoil couldn't be happier with their new baby that Popeye names Sweet Pea. The baby has special talents and so Bluto steals it to look for treasure while Popeye's father is his prisoner? THIS WHOLE THING DOESN'T MAKE ANY SENSE!!!

• AJ V

  
  I saw this movie when I was a kid, and I'd love to see it again sometime soon. I remember it being very funny, so I gave it four stars. Plus, Robin Williams plays Popeye, that's cool.

• Conner R

  
  Definitely one of my favorite childhood movies. This brings all the goofy and amazingly bizarre elements of the cartoons and throws it into live action. What's odd is that this comes off as so genuine and lovable. You just wouldn't expect this type of movie to have such… More
  Definitely one of my favorite childhood movies. This brings all the goofy and amazingly bizarre elements of the cartoons and throws it into live action. What's odd is that this comes off as so genuine and lovable. You just wouldn't expect this type of movie to have such power and emotional weight. Robin Williams is pitch perfect as Popeye, no one else could even come close to bringing that character to life. Bluto and Shelly Duvall's Olive Oyl are also some great contributions. It's impossible to not take something from Popeye and admire it just a little. The sets are outrageously detailed and unique, the story manages to highlight the character in full and Robert Altman's respect for the source material is really nice to see.

• Anthony L

  
  This is a very messy film but I really loved it as a child.

• Jani H

  
  "Heeeelp! Heeeelp!" Robert Altman as the director. Robin Williams in his first feature film role. You'd think that the end result would be somewhat entertaining. Well, 'Popeye' was a real torture and honestly one of the worst films I've ever seen.… More
  "Heeeelp! Heeeelp!" Robert Altman as the director. Robin Williams in his first feature film role. You'd think that the end result would be somewhat entertaining. Well, 'Popeye' was a real torture and honestly one of the worst films I've ever seen. Popeye comes to a place called Sweethaven to find his father, meets Olive Oyl and all of a sudden adopts a kid called Sweetpea. And every now and then the cast starts to sing the most terrible songs ever performed on the big screen. I like musicals as much as the next new kid on the block but goddamn! These songs were probably arranged by a bunch of braindamaged monkeys. Fuck me sideways and pull a roll of quarters from my ass! The cast is a bunch of apathetic nutcases. The acting, all of them together and not to name a few, is one of the worst ever witnessed by my eyes. Their voices, their looks... Awful. I should probably get some therapy for this but I'm pretty sure that I'll cry myself to sleep today. There's absolutely nothing good in this film. No wait, the moment when the screen goes blank. I enjoyed that. Very much. Now you may ask; "You moron! Why didn't you just push the stop button?" Not my thing, I always watch the movie 'til the end. Even if it would suck more ass the all the asses in the world and beyond. Do not watch this movie!

• Aaron N

  
  Popeye: Another thing I got is a sensk of humiligration. Now, maybe you swabs can pool your intelligensk and sees that I'm axking you for an apologeky. So this movie happened. Sitting on my shelf, in the pile consisting mostly of movies other people bought me, me and the boys… More
  Popeye: Another thing I got is a sensk of humiligration. Now, maybe you swabs can pool your intelligensk and sees that I'm axking you for an apologeky. So this movie happened. Sitting on my shelf, in the pile consisting mostly of movies other people bought me, me and the boys decided to watch Popeye, a movie I forgot existed. Not only does is it directed by Robert Altman and stars Robin Williams in his debut film role and Shelly Duvall, the film is also a musical. Let the fun begin! Certainly a lot of effort went into the production design, as a whole town was built to create the sets for this movie. Along with careful choreography and extras use to get across this light-hearted musical theme. All of this going into the film that is treated very much like a cartoon. Basically, the story involves Popeye coming into town looking for his pappy, only to fall for the skinny Olive Oyl. Unfortunately, Popeye must also deal with the brute known as Bluto and a newly arrived baby on the scene. Now, I'm not a fan of musicals and it doesn't help when only a couple of the songs actually have comprehensible lyrics, however, that's not a huge problem for this film. The big problem comes from the fact that its almost two hours long. Its a huge stretch to suffer through Williams playing this character and Shelly Duvall and her teeth complaining and screaming for Popeye. Its well made, I guess, but hell if I wanna watch it again anytime soon. Popeye: Oh, what am I? Some kind of barnacle on the dinghy of life?

• Jose Z

  
  Popeye in its first and only live action movie was kinda disappointing to me. I mean I like the movie but I notice a lot of errors and flaws that makes you think why they did this movie. The story and the plot is kinda cheesy, the fx's are terrible specially at the end with the… More
  Popeye in its first and only live action movie was kinda disappointing to me. I mean I like the movie but I notice a lot of errors and flaws that makes you think why they did this movie. The story and the plot is kinda cheesy, the fx's are terrible specially at the end with the octopus that looks totally fake at first sight. The cast is good but their performances not so much, the only one that is worthy is Robin Williams as Popeye and only because he is a natural comedian and knows how to lift a character. Anyway I review it with 3 1/2 stars because it made me remember one of my favorite cartoons and because Williams is one of my favorite actors.

• Robert C

  
  I recently re-watched this, having seen it in the theaters when I was a kid and remembering that I had liked it. Which having grown up watching Popeye cartoons was no surprise. I enjoyed it this time around as well, but for different reasons. I'm a sucker for good set… More
  I recently re-watched this, having seen it in the theaters when I was a kid and remembering that I had liked it. Which having grown up watching Popeye cartoons was no surprise. I enjoyed it this time around as well, but for different reasons. I'm a sucker for good set design, creative costumes, actual people & objects being used in special effects / stunts as opposed to the over-use of CGI. Part of this films charm is that it was made this "old fashioned" way, yet it is still very stylized and visually appealing. The sets were so amazing and well built that they are still there in Malta nearly 30 years later and have become a sort of tourist destination! It does have it's weak points, but all in all it is an enjoyable little romp and the cast does a great job at bringing the cartoon characters to life. And one of the few films where Robin Williams doesn't bug the crap out of me!

• Dean M

  
  This adaptation of the famous comic strip by director Robert Altman is the cinematic equivalent of the old "good news" routine. The good news is that Robin Williams makes a terrific Popeye, and Shelley Duvall was born to play Olive Oyl. This is so wonderfully weird to look… More
  This adaptation of the famous comic strip by director Robert Altman is the cinematic equivalent of the old "good news" routine. The good news is that Robin Williams makes a terrific Popeye, and Shelley Duvall was born to play Olive Oyl. This is so wonderfully weird to look at and so much fun at times.

• Film C

  
  ive seen this it ok funny

• Dan S

  
  As I recall, a really retarded movie.

• Jason S

  
  I liked this movie. I thought it was funny and that even the music was pretty good. It was a stretch to make this into live action.

• Lafe F

  
  I loved this movie as a kid; saw it at the theatre 5 times - and then watched endless airings on Super Channel. Malta makes a great exotic location for a fishing village, sea and treasure island. This was one of the first cartoon to live action adaptations, and was fascinating to see… More
  I loved this movie as a kid; saw it at the theatre 5 times - and then watched endless airings on Super Channel. Malta makes a great exotic location for a fishing village, sea and treasure island. This was one of the first cartoon to live action adaptations, and was fascinating to see the embodiment of whole range of characters. They didn't put in The Sea Hag and Eugene the Jeep - too late for a sequel now. The songs were great: "I Yam What I Yam", "Food Food Food" and the classic "I'm Popeye the Sailor Man." A lot of love went into the making of this movie from all involved. A childhood favorite, but now I can only watch it every few years.

• Michael S

  
  Probably Altman's worst in my honest opinion.

• xGary X

  
  Absolutely painful live-action cartoon complete with dodgy musical numbers. So completely off the mark it's almost surreal...

• James A

  
  A treat for people who like big faces.

• Juan C

  
  robin williams is a perfect popeye in this funny and great version of the cartoons. A

• Christopher O

  
  Robin Williams was riding high on tv when he made his film debut as the legendary cartoon character Popeye. Williams is a great mimic and his facial expressions suit his interpretation of Popeye perfectly. But, Robert Altman is not a average filmaker and is not one you would truly… More
  Robin Williams was riding high on tv when he made his film debut as the legendary cartoon character Popeye. Williams is a great mimic and his facial expressions suit his interpretation of Popeye perfectly. But, Robert Altman is not a average filmaker and is not one you would truly pick to direct a potential blockbuster film. Altman prided himself in making movies that mattered. The film tries to be more artistic than it needs to be, the sets and the costumes and the story are too surreal. The script gives no depth to the characters. Duval is charming as Olive Oyl but this was a big disappointment.

• Sarah P

  
  I never watched the Popeye cartoon as a kid, so maybe that's why I was so annoyed by this movie. I definately wouldn't watch it again.

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