The Terrytoons are oddly interesting, mainly for anybody wanting to see (generally) older cartoons made by lesser known and lower-budget studios. They are a mixed bag in quality, with some better than others, often with outstanding music and with some mild amusement and charm and variable in animation, characterisation and content.
1940, like all the other years for Terrytoons, saw a hit and miss batch, more so than the other years even. Of which 'Love in a Cottage' is one of the middling ones ranking it in correlation with the rest of the Terrytoons and one of the middling 1940 cartoons. It is an unexceptional, nothing exactly special cartoon and has the same amount of problems as it has the amount of strengths. 'Love in a Cottage' is also watchable, completest sake is the main reason to see it but it's not the only reason.
Best asset is the music, which predictably is incredible. It is so beautifully and cleverly orchestrated and arranged, is great fun to listen to and full of lively energy, doing so well with enhancing the action. The ambitious, elaborate detail in the backgrounds is still great to see, as is the comparatively improved fluidity of drawing and movement, and some synchronisation is neat. The colour is vibrant.
Some mildly amusing moments, if not particularly imaginative, and there is some zest and natural charm, and parts of it and the basic set up are nicely done.
Occasionally though the visuals lack polish in drawing and some transitions. There is no real conflict and while the birds are cute enough they are pretty bland. Parts of the cartoon are dull.
Likewise, the story is paper thin, practically plot-less, with not an awful lot to it (like the cartoon in general), doing little new with a not so original premise. Gags aren't enough, hardly any even, what little there are there are not much especially memorable or particularly amusing and some don't serve much point. The cartoon tends to veer towards being too cute and sugary and a lot of it is pretty predictable, parts also being rather too sentimental, the sugar making the teeth a bit sensitive.
Overall, unexceptional but watchable enough. 5/10 Bethany Cox
1940, like all the other years for Terrytoons, saw a hit and miss batch, more so than the other years even. Of which 'Love in a Cottage' is one of the middling ones ranking it in correlation with the rest of the Terrytoons and one of the middling 1940 cartoons. It is an unexceptional, nothing exactly special cartoon and has the same amount of problems as it has the amount of strengths. 'Love in a Cottage' is also watchable, completest sake is the main reason to see it but it's not the only reason.
Best asset is the music, which predictably is incredible. It is so beautifully and cleverly orchestrated and arranged, is great fun to listen to and full of lively energy, doing so well with enhancing the action. The ambitious, elaborate detail in the backgrounds is still great to see, as is the comparatively improved fluidity of drawing and movement, and some synchronisation is neat. The colour is vibrant.
Some mildly amusing moments, if not particularly imaginative, and there is some zest and natural charm, and parts of it and the basic set up are nicely done.
Occasionally though the visuals lack polish in drawing and some transitions. There is no real conflict and while the birds are cute enough they are pretty bland. Parts of the cartoon are dull.
Likewise, the story is paper thin, practically plot-less, with not an awful lot to it (like the cartoon in general), doing little new with a not so original premise. Gags aren't enough, hardly any even, what little there are there are not much especially memorable or particularly amusing and some don't serve much point. The cartoon tends to veer towards being too cute and sugary and a lot of it is pretty predictable, parts also being rather too sentimental, the sugar making the teeth a bit sensitive.
Overall, unexceptional but watchable enough. 5/10 Bethany Cox
