Let me start by saying this is a very strange movie. It tries to respect the original cartoon, wants to sorta be a musical, and overall has a stage play feel. The biggest problem is the audio is all but inaudible. Not only does Popeye mumble (as expected), but so does everyone else and characters are constantly talking off screen, which doesn't help. As another reviewer pointed out, turning on the subtitles makes a world of difference. I've seen this movie several times over the years including a screening shortly before it's original release. Until I turned on the subtitles, I never realized Popeye has so many great one liners!Which brings us to the highlights, Robin Williams absolutely nailed the role. The sets are gorgeous, and the characters (for the most part) are great. The story is pretty good. As good as you'd expect, turning a group of short cartoons into a feature length film.At the end of the day it's enjoyable for a lazy afternoon movie. If only the audio was done better, this might even be an 8 or 9 in my book.

This 1980, live-action, feature film called "Popeye" is absolute T-R-A-S-H! Absolutely!! Absolutely!! ABSOLUTELY!!! I guarantee you that there's not a single, solitary funny, or even slightly amusing, moment in this movie's entirety. There isn't. Popeye has got to be one of the ultimate fiasco movies of all time. It wouldn't (and it couldn't) even amuse a 5-year-old child.For all the extensive time, effort, and cost that was obviously put into the design and building of the elaborate and goofy "Looney-Tune" sets for Popeye, and, not to mention, Robin Williams' special Popeye make-up effects, I'd have thought there'd be, at least, some worthwhile and humorous entertainment value to this flick. But, nope, there wasn't. Popeye was pure G-A-R-B-A-G-E!!.... There's no if's....and's...or, but's, about it.The Popeye cartoon character is, without a doubt, one of my all-time favourite, animated heroes. He's such a dynamic and complex sailor-dude. Popeye ranks right up there with Superman in my books.And, yet, in this flick Robin Williams almost single-handedly succeeded in destroying Popeye's wonderful charm and winning character with his cringe-worthy portrayal. Williams was absolutely pathetic as Popeye. He, literally, rendered Popeye contemptible. I loathed the way he tried to emulate Popeye's gestures and imitate Popeye's unique speech pattern and distinctive chuckle.....Blah! All anybody, in their right mind, has to do is simply watch any one of Popeye's amazing animated shorts from the 1930's or 40's. It doesn't take a genius to immediately realize that there's no comparison here between one of these classic cartoon episodes and this crummy, little excuse of a movie. A simple, short, 7-minute Popeye cartoon from 1938 surpasses this inferior flick by literal miles when it comes to likable characters, genuine humour, and real, honest-to-goodness imagination.

Perhaps this movie was ahead of its time. A precursor to today's more interpretive and humanizing comic book movie. The characters cannot be interpreted using the paradigm of the source material. Instead see that if the audience is to participate in the hero's journey and suspend disbelief in order to come away with something, the characters must be more than caricature. Idioms and quirks intact of course, but also a heart and soul that is authentic. Otherwise it descends into mere parody.Williams' performance is if anything authentic and soulful. Incredibly faithful to the character of Popeye and yet three-dimensional. Setting the tone for Williams' commitment to character that was to become a benchmark in comedic acting. The film is Altmanesque in its bold exposure of the beauty in human frailty. In being ridiculous in order to achieve an honest reflection of the human condition.

It's the iconic Popeye the sailor man (Robin Williams) and he hates to eat spinach. He rows his rowboat into the seaside town of Sweethaven. He rents a room from the Oyls. Olive Oyl (Shelley Duvall) is getting engaged to Bluto. The town is run by Bluto for the Commodore. Popeye is looking for his Poppa. He befriends Wimpy but the town is generally unfriendly. Olive Oyl is conflicted about her engagement and about to run away. Someone switches her basket with a basket with abandoned baby Swee'pea inside. Bluto sees Olive Oyl with Popeye and beats him to a pulp. The Oyls lose everything as Bluto takes it all for tax. There is a challenge to anyone who last one round with Oxblood Oxheart for a 10 days tax exemption and $15. Castor Oyl tries and gets knocked out. Popeye takes on the challenge and has to overcome Oxblood's mother (Linda Hunt). Popeye pushes the Taxman into the harbor and instantly becomes the town's hero. Wimpy gives Swee'pea to Bluto for some hamburgers. It turns out that the Commodore wants to use Swee'pea's insightfulness to find a buried treasure.The set of Sweethaven looks both ugly and fake. The first thing Popeye encounter is tax. It's not a good start. The camera is far away with long uncut scenes. It's Robert Altman's style and not a good fit for Popeye. It is not a good fit for a blockbuster. In fact, I think Altman is horrible fit in every way for this movie. The songs are boring, sad, and not catchy. Robin Williams tries very hard. Olive Oyl is such an annoying spoiled brat. Everybody is a bit annoying and terribly unfriendly. Of course, they talk over each other as an Altman movie does. There are quite a few acrobats at work but it is not filmed well. There is no energy. It is a lot of blah, and a lot of groans. There is a general ugliness to the whole affair. The biggest problem is still that Robert Altman is the wrong fit. For Popeye, this is simply unfunny.