While Famous Studios' output was not always great, some even not being particularly good, it was very rarely less than watchable and their Noveltoons series (possibly the most prolific theatrical series of theirs) epitomises that. Do have admiration for any cartoon centred around the second world war, not easy to pull off for such a traumatic event in history and how difficult it was for everybody back then, which were always made with good intentions but the execution always varied.
1945's 'When G.I. Johnny Came Home' is a strong example of this. It is a watchable enough cartoon, can see much effort went into it and it is well intended but the execution was a bit of a mixed bag for me. It does have a good deal of strengths but also the same problems that can be seen in a lot of the not so great Noveltoons cartoons and doesn't escape the problems that WWII cartoons can have (even from the best or most popular studios).
Good things are a fair few. 'When G.I. Johnny Comes Home' is very well animated. Again the background art standing out, though do love the use and shadings of colours and how expressive and fluid it all looks. The music is even greater, as well as the sumptuous orchestrations and lively rhythms it also rouses and has pathos.
There are parts are moving, especially if for some reason the war has a significant significance, and its good intentions is hard to not admire or at least appreciate. Am not going to criticise 'When G.I. Johnny Comes Home' for being lacking in humour because it is not that kind of cartoon.
It is not a cartoon exempt from criticism though. Would have forgiven 'When G.I. Johnny Comes Again' for lacking much story, barely existent really, if it had more momentum and it is in this respect that compels the least. The cartoon does drag and other than some poignancy it doesn't have very much to it and can be bland. The characters have likeability but the personalities are quite one-dimensional.
Despite the song being catchy and a great one, it takes up too much of the cartoon. Have said that the good intentions are here, and they are, but 'When G.I. Johnny Comes Home' approaches its subject with the subtlety of a hand grenade and veers on heavy-handed. It was a good thing it treated the subject seriously, but that turned out to not be a complete strengths. With dull pacing and with even a lack of splashes of humour the treatment felt too serious to the point of dreariness.
Overall, watchable but little stands out here. Appreciated what it tried to do but didn't really care for it regrettably, hope nobody holds anything against me for this. 5/10