TheLittleSongbird
Have been increasingly unsure what to make of "The Beary Family" cartoons as an overall series, whether to stand by my initial statement of for Walter Lantz Studios' final series it not being as bad as anticipated or judging from the awfulness of the worst cartoons to take it back. Sorry if this sounds confusing.Due to that there are some decent or watchable "Beary Family" cartoons, especially 'Fowled-Up Birthday' and 'Mother's Little Helper' (both directed by Jack Hannah, who generally is a much stronger animation director than Paul J. Smith and his cartoons much better). However, there are also a fair share of horrible ones, beforehand especially seen with 'Charlie's Mother-in-Law'. 'Mouse in the House' is one of the better "Beary Family" cartoons to me. Not great but much better than the painful previous cartoon 'Window Pains' and a serviceable effort.'Mouse in the House, like the rest of the better-faring entries in the series, is not great by any stretch. Like many 60s Lantz-studio cartoons, the animation is not good. Time and budget constraints shows in a lot of the animation, which is very rushed looking in the drawing and detail wise it's on the simplistic and careless side with colours that lack vibrancy and a fair share of goofs. The story is pretty slight and contains few surprises and could have benefited from feeling a little less noisy and at times tighter timing.As tiresome it might be to some for me to rag on against Bessie, she has nearly always been an annoying character and her treatment of Charlie makes her a very difficult character to like, one actually questions what Charlie ever saw in her and why he hasn't left yet. The ending can be seen from some way off and is pretty mean-spirited.However, the music puts one in a good mood and is rousing and lush. Am liking the main "Beary Family" theme more with each cartoon of theirs. The mouse is adorable and also a suitable pest. Junior is half-witted but also means well.For a Smith-directed "Beary Family" cartoon, while never hilarious or innovative the gags are actually amusing and have much crisper timing generally to usual (though parts are still clumsy and could have been tighter, but not as badly as other entries in the series), regardless of whether the outcomes are foreseeable. Charlie's dialogue amuses.Charlie as always is the best, most amusing and most interesting character, and is often in the series the only likable and rootable one. It is very easy to relate to and like him, and Paul Frees' deft voice work helps a lot. Grace Stafford has little to do though.All in all, to me one of the better "Beary Family" cartoons although it is a long way from being great let alone a classic. 6/10 Bethany Cox
