This is going to sound similarly worded to my reviews on the previous Oswald cartoons, but mainly some have the same strengths and weaknesses. Despite Oswald the Lucky Rabbit and his cartoons being popular and well received at the time, they have been vastly overshadowed over time by succeeding animation characters. It is a shame as, while not cartoon masterpieces, they are fascinating for anybody wanting to see what very old animation looked like.
'Hot Feet' is sadly less than hot, instead a pretty lukewarm experience and a forgettable cartoon that rarely rises above mediocre. This was actually the general standard of the 1931 Oswald cartoons, with the weak but not completely awful 'Northwoods' faring weakest. The exceptions, the ones that were above average or more, were 'Country School', 'The Farmer', 'Radio Rhythm' and particularly 'The Bandmaster'.
The animation is the bright spot in 'Hot Feet'. It may occasionally lack refinement, but most of it is smooth and detailed with Oswald's movements, gestures and expressions still very much natural, like the generally freer, more elaborate and faster look of a good deal of Oswald cartoons at this time. Drawing has occasional crudeness but is mostly fine and transitions don't feel as choppy and incomplete as some of the worst Oswald cartoons.
Music is another strength. It has an energetic nature, fits well and is dynamic with the action, then again the music is nearly always good in the Oswald cartoons, with 'Northwoods' being one of few exceptions. Synchronisation is good and Oswald is endearing.
On the other hand, the story feels formulaic and very cobbled together, what very little there is, most of it is barely existent. Good pacing and gags would have made this more forgivable. Neither are there enough. This may sound like me being too harsh in giving a lacklustre rating, but the pacing, story thinness and gags were major enough issues to deduct more than one point each unfortunately.
Some of the pace lacks momentum and the entire cartoon is just lacking in laughs of any kind, not even raising a small smile, most being drawn out and like the story cobbled together with a lack of cohesiveness. The sound can be muffled.
In summary, less than hot but not a complete mess. 4/10 Bethany Cox
