I really wanted to like this movie. I feel terribly cynical trashing it, and that's why I'm giving it a middling 5. Actually, I'm giving it a 5 because there were some superb performances.

Just intense enough to provide a much-needed diversion, just lightweight enough to make you forget about it soon after it’s over. It’s not exactly “good,” per se, but it does what it sets out to do in terms of putting us on edge, which makes it … successful?

Story: It's very simple but honestly that is fine.

The movie really just wants to entertain people.

Classic Disney short teaming Mickey Mouse, Donald Duck, and Goofy. Here they are working on their tugboat when they receive an SOS call and rush to help. As you might imagine, things never go smoothly when Goofy and Donald are involved. Repeats some gags from earlier shorts with these three but it's still fun. As was usually the case with Disney from this era, the animation is gorgeous; nicely drawn with exciting action and beautiful colors. Great voice work from Clarence Nash, Pinto Colvig, and Walt Disney. It's a fun cartoon but not one that will likely make the highlight reel for these characters. You can't go wrong with classic Disney, though, so definitely give it a look.

...........AS IT SURE sounds like a substitute to us!! TAKING ON YET another group team comic effort, the Disney Studios' answer to the Brothers Marx & Ritz, as well as Laurel & Hardy, the Stooges, etc.gives their best in team effort.PERHAPS THIS COMBINATION of character concept was getting just a trifle stale or maybe the creative talent was being allocated in a greater proportional configuration to the animated features; like SNOW WHITE, PINNOCHIO, BAMBI, DUMBO and FANTASIA.OUTSIDE OF THE obvious buffoonery of the actions by the true supporting characters of Donald & Goofy and the now much more straight laced demeanor of the "Top Banana", Mickey; the big development was the physical appearance of this anthropomorphic trio. This goes especially for their facial construction and make up.SOMETIME BETWEEN THE earlier short, BOAT BUILDERS and this maritime outing, an editorial policy decreed that Mickey especially needed an upgrade.PRODUCTION ON WHAT was originally to be called "the Concert Feature" had a segment starring Mr. Mouse in it called The Sorcerer's Apprentice and the feature, now dubbed FANTASIA, showcased this more complex countenance.WE RECENTLY VIEWED this short along with BOAT BUILDERS on Turner Classic Movies' FROM THE Disney VAULT Feature with Leonard Maltin.

Two years following their prior high seas adventure in "Boat Builders", Mickey, Donald and Goofy team up once again in a similar tale, this time aboard a ship, and roused to action when they hear a distressing S.O.S. from the Steamship Gigantic, about to flounder on a dangerous Rocky Reef. Goofy has to contend with an uncooperative coal furnace door, while Donald Duck has a bit of trouble getting in gear himself. Finally breaking free of the harbor, the trio come to realize that the S.O.S. broadcast they heard could just as well have been intended for themselves, as the intrepid sailors wind up in the drink. Excellent animation and vibrant color highlight this quick seven minute film, and Disney fans should find themselves well pleased.

A significant portion of this animated short shows Goofy trying to load up some coal to be burned in order to get Mickey's tugboat moving. Meanwhile, Donald struggles with a piece of machinery and Mickey stands around until the boat gets moving. Wow...the comic genius involved is downright mind-blowing!I know I'm being a bit of a downer, but it is disappointing that Mickey and his gang were always trying to cull laughter from idiocy instead of cleverness. "Tugboat Mickey" continued to employ that strategy. It used broad, uninvolving humor and the "surprise" ending was obvious from the get-go. 1/10