The Famous Studios, more the earlier ones than the more variable later ones, Popeye cartoons were generally amusing enough and all the 40s efforts were well made (a bit more mixed for the 50s ones). To me though Fleischer's Popeye cartoons were funnier and fresher (even when the stories were formulaic the material was often very inventive) and they looked better, or at least looked better than the later Famous Studios output where time and budget limitations showed.
1947 was not a bad year for the series or even the studio. 'All's Fair at the Fair', not to be confused with the 1938 Fleischer Studios cartoon of the same time (a great cartoon) really isn't the series at its best and doesn't really represent what it is that makes the Popeye cartoons appealing. One of the weakest Popeye cartoons of 1947, the late-40s (the decade perhaps too) and towards the lower half of the series overall too. Does that mean that 'All's Fair at the Fair' is bad? No it isn't. It is also not particularly great either.
'All's Fair at the Fair's' animation is bright and colourful as usual for the late-40s efforts and there is some lovely background detail. Don't have any issue with the music either and never did throughout the series, which is typically merry and sumptuous, adding to and enhancing the action and even gestures and expressions. There are some amusing moments, though nothing here is hilarious or particularly inspired.
Popeye is an enjoyable titular character as always, will never get enough of his asides, while Bluto matches him, betters him even, in comic timing while being a suitably formidable foil. Their chemistry is nice though there is not an awful lot new to it. The voice acting is also fine, Jack Mercer being spot on.
However, 'All's Fair at the Fair' is very predictable, despite a different setting this was a bit repetitive, and never feels particularly inspired. It could have done with more energy and certainly more gags, what was there never really rises above amusing. The first half can be quite dull, taking too long and while things do pick up in the second half, the wildness isn't quite there.
Olive is very bland and has very little to do other than being a plot device.
Summarising, didn't leave me deflated but not quite uplifting enough. 6/10
