Love animation, it was a big part of my life as a child, particularly Disney, Looney Tunes and Tom and Jerry, and still love it whether it's film, television or cartoons. Hugh Harman and Harman-Ising Studios was a bit hit and miss for me (generally more hits than Rudolf Ising), there are cartoons of his that are well worth watching with a lot of charm, well engineered gags and any sentiment not getting too much even when the story is weak. There are also other cartoons of his that are not particularly funny or interesting, dully paced and don't have great characters, despite good animation and music.
1937's 'Swing Wedding' is not one of his best however. It is watchable certainly, which is true of all of Harman's lesser efforts, and has a few of the usual good things (the animation and particularly the music faring the best). It also however has too many of the quite frequent shortcomings and did have potential to be better than it was. Was not expecting much from the story, but was expecting funnier gags (and more), more consistent energy and more appealing characters in 'Swing Wedding' to be perfectly honest.
'Swing Wedding' has good things. The animation is vibrantly colourful and fluid, with lovingly crafted and detail background art. Nothing looks rushed or static, and the character animation on the characters really comes to life and could pass for the real thing. Even better, and this is probably the best aspect of 'Swing Wedding', is the music, it is lushly orchestrated and very characterful in an energetic way. Loved the spirited arrangements of popular standards rightly considered classics.
A few of the caricatures work quite well, particularly the likeable Cab Calloway one. There is some nice energy early on.
However, 'Swing Wedding' could have been a lot better. It is paper thin to the point of non-existence in terms of plot and this is evident in a dull second half that has too much of a run out of ideas feel. It is never really particularly amusing let alone funny, in a cartoon where gags are too few and have little freshness. Some, like what seemed like references to drug abuse, felt out of place and not particularly appropriate in a cartoon about swing and family friendly weddings. Such as the use of the trumpet valve.
Most of the characters, all caricatures, are little more than less than tasteful stereotypes. Have always disliked it intensely when Stephin Fetchit (not a fan of his in the first place) is caricatured (with it being reminiscent of how black people and slaves were portrayed in 'The Birth of a Nation') and this is a perfect example of why.
Concluding, watchable but a long way from great. 5/10.
