The Three Bears cartoons are well made, very funny (often hysterically so) worthy of more praise than they get rather than the relative obscurity they've garnered (it is good though that they are remembered fondly).
'What's Brewin' Bruin?' is not an exception. It's not my favourite of their cartoons, a contender for that being 'A Bear for Punishment'. Mama Bear is not as funny or interesting as Papa and Junyer and consequently comes over as a little bland. Everything else however is fantastic. Mel Blanc is a fantastic voice actor, one of my favourites (and a favourite of many other animation fans), but has had more to do before and his material is not as inspired as usual, he does do well as Mama Bear though Bea Benaderet does suit the character to me much better.
However, apart from a still lack of refinement for Mama Bear the animation is very nicely done indeed. It's sumptuously and vibrantly coloured, richly detailed and crisply drawn, the animation on Papa Bear is pretty imaginative. Carl Stalling seldom disappoints, from memory have not heard a bad music score from it, and once again in 'What's Brewin' Bruin?' he shows why he is so highly regarded and considered the best of the regular Looney Tunes composers (myself included). One cannot help love the lush and dynamic way the music's orchestrated, the constant energy in the rhythms and the unmatched enhancing of the action.
Also shining is the writing, Junyer and Papa Bear have some hilarious and witty dialogue that suit their characters perfectly. The gags are even funnier and even more inventive, they have a sadistic edge and a mean streak but not in a pointless or stomach-churning way, showing that Looney Tunes were not afraid to take risks. There are reservations about Mama Bear, but Junyer and Papa Bear are filled with personality (it is hard to not be endeared to Junyer's hilarious dim-wittedness or feel sorry for Papa Bear despite his cantankerous and violent treatment of Junyer) and are brilliantly characterised.
Of the voice acting, the clear standout is Billy Bletcher as Papa Bear. He is note-perfect, and while Blanc did very well in the previous 'Bugs Bunny and the Three Bears' Bletcher owns the role. Stan Freberg is very amusing and never annoying as Junyer.
All in all, very good Three Bears cartoon. 8/10 Bethany Cox
