Fleischer Studios' Popeye cartoons tended to be funnier, more imaginative and better made. Famous Studios' on the most part entertained though their later Popeye, and overall filmography actually, cartoons had tighter deadlines and lower budgets evident. Which accounted for the animation not being as good, less surprises and the material not as imaginative. Speaking as someone who likes the character himself and many of his cartoons.
1948's 'Robin Hood-Winked' is one of the weakest cartoons of what was a fairly undistinguished year for the Popeye series. Absolutely love the character of Robin Hood and his escapades, which have spawned several more than worthwhile films (the definitive film version, the Errol Flynn film, being a masterpiece) and have been parodied and spoofed many times in animation before and since 'Robin Hood-Winked'. More than once by Looney Tunes alone. 'Robin Hood-Winked' is one of the weaker ones.
'Robin Hood-Winked' by all means does have good things. The animation is good. Very colourful, meticulous in background detail, the fluidity in drawing and movement having gotten smoother all the time and the expressions freer. Popeye's expressions and body movements are terrific. As is the music score from regular Famous Studios composer Winston Sharples, always one of the best done components of their cartoons and even the best thing in some. The playful character, how dynamic it is with everything and the beautiful orchestration make it one of 'Robin Hood-Winked's' strongest assets.
The final third does finally have some of the wild energy that was lacking in the rest of the cartoon and there are some amusing gags. Popeye is likeable in the lead role and has charismatic and good comic timing. Bluto has good chemistry and while his role is typecast he fills it formidably. The voice acting all round is very good with Jack Mercer and Mae Questel proving to be the definitive voice actors for Popeye and Olive and Jackson Beck a worthwhile successor to Gus Wickie.
Sadly, the story is very, very predictable, basically formulaic Popeye versus Bluto in the Robin Hood setting, with no real surprises. Including an ending that can be seen from miles away and the conflict, despite nice chemistry, lacking the usual tension due to having seen it exactly the same in previous and succeeding cartoons in the series. 'Robin Hood-Winked' does pick up in the final third, but the rest is fairly dull and uninspired with too few gags and all that are there feeling like less sharp retreads.
Olive has very little to do and is almost pointless other than being a plot device for the sake of giving a reason for Popeye and Bluto to be fighting each other. Little John is even more incidental to the plot and serves little point. The dialogue is also very stilted.
In summary, sadly didn't do much for me. 5/10