Product Details

• Actors: Robin Williams, Shelley Duvall, Ray Walston, Paul Dooley, Paul L. Smith
• Directors: Robert Altman
• Writers: E.C. Segar, Jules Feiffer
• Producers: C.O. Erickson, Robert Evans, Scott Bushnell
• Format: Anamorphic, Closed-captioned, Color, Dolby, NTSC, Widescreen
• Language: English (Dolby Digital 2.0 Surround), English (Dolby Digital 5.1)
• Subtitles: English
• Region: Region 1 (U.S. and Canada only. Read more about DVD formats.)
  
• Aspect Ratio: 2.35:1
• Number of discs: 1
• Rated: PG (Parental Guidance Suggested)
• Studio: Paramount
• DVD Release Date: June 24, 2003
• Run Time: 114 minutes
• Average Customer Review: 4.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (265 customer reviews)
• ASIN: B000094J63
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #28,370 in Movies & TV (See Top 100 in Movies & TV)
• Learn more about "Popeye" on IMDb

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com

Nothing interests filmmaker Robert Altman more than a contained culture that mixes bare humanity with local eccentricity (think of his M*A*S*H and Nashville). So Altman's Popeye (1980), based on the old comic strip, works best as a portrait of a busy, cluttered, cartoonish town called Sweethaven. But it is much less successful as a comprehensible story about the famous sailor with massive forearms and a relationship with Olive Oyl (Shelley Duvall). Robin Williams plays Popeye with his usual brilliance for mimicry, Paul Dooley makes a credible Wimpy, and Paul L. Smith makes an impression as the oversized bully, Bluto. But this strange, disastrous film never becomes more than an expensive workshop airing out Altmanesque themes. --Tom Keogh

Product Description

The sailor with big forearms rows to Sweethaven and steals skinny Olive Oyl from large Bluto. Directed by Robert Altman

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

162 of 169 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars REBELLION! October 20, 1999

By Justin ([e-mail])

Format:VHS Tape

I will go mad if I hear one more critic say that Popeye is a mess, or one more person laugh and look at me strange when I bring up this movie. This movie is a work of art. The songs are works of art. Shelley Duvall's Olive Oil is a work of art. The lines Robin Williams mumbles so you have to watch the movie ten times to hear them are a work of art. The set is, the plot is. Did I say the music is? You're going to tell me that Shelley Duval dancing about oddly on the deck singing he needs me, he needs me, isn't just absolutely perfect!? And that whole Fooey, fooey scene! I'm gonna do one of those twist up my arm punches to the next person that says this movie was a travesty for Williams or show boating by Altman or anything else! AUGHHHHH! thanks for listening.

62 of 64 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Believe those who reviewed it here, NOT the critics. September 23, 2000

By A Customer

Format:VHS Tape

I really do not know how this film flopped in the Box Office:

Just like every reviewer (not weird critics) who wrote here, I believe this is an extraordinary movie.

One of the critics wrote that it is boring? I really really really cannot see if the guy is talking about this movie or another. If you wanna see for yourself just skim the other reviews:

This is a movie that has been watched tens and hundreds of times by those who own it. Boring? I do not know of any other movie that can withstand repeated viewing like this one, nor that has been so reported by its most positive reviewers.

Our whole family has watched this film for hundreds of times, other reviewers also mention similar numbers.

Why?

1- The script is unbelievable: Popeye (Williams) is blabbering all the time (as well as other chartacters): Somebody is always saying something, and each time we watch the movie again, we find new jokes, and in good style.

We know those who produced the film did not rip-us off. Many movies that made much better at the box office cannot stand to be viewed twice.

2- The characters are a real Popeye movie come to life: Every one is the real cartoon come to life, the way you have them stored in your imagination. This is a delight not available in any similar movie.

3- Any person seeking to see a Popeye movie is not interested in the issues discussed by the critics... come on guys, are they reviewing Gone With The Wind?

This is a perfect Popeye movie; and if that's what you want you will see it at least 10 times... guaranteed.

Too bad about the reviews; I even saw an interview with Robin Williams and let me tell you, when this film was mentioned he was really "embarrassed". We love his style and comedy in his other movies but we do not agree with him timid attitude: We believe this is one of his best films.

35 of 35 people found the following review helpful

4.0 out of 5 stars Robin Williams Makes Popeye A Reality March 13, 2007

By Mr. Sinister

Format:DVD

For Robin Williams first movie, he chose the Iconic character of Popeye The Sailor to portray. I rememer the hooflaw surrounding this flick when I was a kid (I was like 10 when this came out) and the success of Mork & Mindy had put Williams in the spotlight. The only problem was that Popeye is not as Iconic a character as the people who made this movie thought. He isn't Superman. He isn't Batman. He isn't Mickey Mouse. Popeye the cartoon character, though classic and kid-pleasing, just wasn't that popular with the chidren and the fact that they made it into a musical probably didn't help much either. Though the film was mildly-successful, it never hit as hard as people expected. The good thing, however, is that Robert Altman (M*A*S*H, Short Cuts) directed, so Popeye as a whole is visually masterful. The actors were perfect for their parts. Shelley Duvall's Olive Oyl is without a doubt one of the best acting casts in history! Bluto comes to life as does Wimpy and Popeye's wayward Pappy (Ray Walston). All in all the shining star is, of course, Williams. Here he proved that he wasn't just a stand-up comedian turned actor, here he proves that he wasn't just a catch-phrase spewing flash-in-the-pan sensation (Na-Nu Na-Nu!). He shows a depth of character and a sense of timing that actually brings the one-eyed Sailor Man to life. Filled with grumbling, clever, obiviously improvised quips, Williams becomes Popeye to an alarming degree.

The story line is simple, Popeye rows into the harbor of Sweethaven looking for his long lost Pappy and is immediately hailed as a stranger and an outcast by the over-the-top weirdos that inhabit the sleepy little seaside villiage. Taxes in Sweethaven have been imposed on everything by the unseen Commodore, using Captain Bluto as his enforcer. The Oyl family is spared these crushing taxes because daughter Olive is getting engaged to the overbearing tyrant Bluto. But Olive despairs and plans to run away on the night of their engagement party. Popeye, who as been renting a room from the Oyls, runs into the departing Olive on the docks. After coming to some kind of understanding that life isn't always what we expected, Olive's wicker carryall is replaced with one contining a clairvoyant baby. As the two return to the scene of the destroyed engagement party, Bluto sees Olive and Popeye and Sweatpea and goes beserk! Cartoon-style fighting ensues.

Overall, the movie will entertain you and your kids. It will probably never be one of your all time favorites, at least I hope not, but it is clever and witty and just fun to watch. Nonsensical in many ways, Popeye let's us forget about being serious for a while and enjoy the simple pleasures of fantasy movie-making.

Dig it!