Famous Studios did do a number of cartoons where they had different Popeye adversaries or partners, so not every cartoon of theirs featured Bluto, and they also did cartoons where Olive didn't feature at all and the cartoons were basically conflicts between Popeye and his co-lead. These cartoons did vary in quality, which was not unexpected considering the quality difference of the later Famous Studios efforts, and to me actually Fleischer Studios did better whenever there was a change of pace.
1951's 'Vacation with Play' is a good fun cartoon if not a great one. It is not one of the overall best of the Popeye series. We're not just talking it not being one of the best of the Fleischer cartoons or not being one of the best of Famous Studios', this is overall we're talking about. 'Vacation with Play' is pretty good still and worth watching if you like Popeye and Bluto together. As far as the early 50s output goes, this fares solidly without being one of the best or worst Famous Studios Popeye cartoons.
'Vacation with Play' isn't perfect. Once again, Olive for my tastes has too little to do in an underwritten role and her material is fairly weak and forgettable.
Like a good deal of Famous Studios' Popeye output, the pacing is not always perfect either, the first portion a touch slow and takes a little long to find its groove. One predicts the ending with certainty and correctly very early on, if you are familiar with most of the Popeye series and know how they end you'll know how this does as it is essentially the same but in a different setting.
On the other hand, the animation is very nicely done. Very colourful, meticulous in background detaill, the fluidity in drawing and movement having gotten smoother all the time and the expressions freer. The setting is vividly done and far from wasted, it actually looked like the whole crew were having a lot of fun with it, and Popeye's expressions and body movements are as ever a joy. As is the music score from regular Famous Studios composer Winston Sharples, always one of the best done components of their cartoons and even the best thing in some. The playful character, how dynamic it is with everything and the beautiful orchestration make it one of 'Vacation with Play's' strongest assets.
While the gags are not hilarious, there are a lot and they are funny. Especially in a wonderfully wild final third. The asides and puns are also great fun, enhanced by the delivery, and don't come over as too cheesy. Popeye and Bluto are both very well characterised, especially Bluto with a larger than life, formidable and entertaining personality, with a great bond between them. The voice acting is great from particularly Jack Mercer.
Summing up, nicely done. 7/10.
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