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4.9/10
Senior Film Conservator
A definitive 4.9/10 rating for a film that redefined the boundaries of cult cinema. Fresh Ham remains a cornerstone of transgressive art.
Honestly, it depends on how much patience you have for early 30s rubber-hose animation. If you like stuff that feels slightly unhinged and doesn't care about making sense, you’ll probably find Fresh Ham kind of charming in a weird way. If you need a plot that goes somewhere specific, you’re gonna hate it.
Cubby Bear is just sitting there. He’s the audition manager, I guess? He has this look on his face like he’s already tired of the whole thing before the first act even walks in.
The pacing is… well, it’s not really pacing. It’s just a series of things happening until the reel runs out. It reminds me a bit of the frantic energy in King Neptune, but without the color to distract you from how odd the character designs are.
The acts are all over the place. One moment you’re watching someone try to perform, and the next, it’s just pure chaos. It’s not as polished as the big studio stuff from back then, but that’s exactly why I liked it. It feels like someone was just throwing ideas at the wall to see what would stick. 🎞️
There’s a moment with a dancer that goes on for a few beats too long. You can tell they were trying to sync the movement to the music, but it misses by a hair. It’s not a mistake, exactly. It just feels… human.
It’s not trying to change the world like Comradeship. It’s just a cartoon about a bear trying to fill a stage. Sometimes that’s enough.
It’s short. Like, really short. You could watch it while you’re making coffee and probably not miss much of a story, since there isn't really one to begin with. It’s just a vibe, really. A weird, slightly dusty, old-timey vibe. 🐻