Mickey Steps Out is basically seven minutes of piano destruction

Should you watch it?

You should definitely watch this if you have seven minutes to kill and like seeing old things get smashed. It is perfect for people who enjoy slapstick and don't care much about a deep plot.

If you hate loud noises or cartoons where animals act like liquid, you might want to skip it. My kids thought the cat was a bit creepy.

Mickey starts the movie by getting ready for his date. He is looking in the mirror for a really long time. 🪞

I noticed he uses hair tonic on his head. He doesn't even have hair, just those big black ears.

It’s a funny little detail that makes him feel more like a real guy trying to look sharp. He even shines his shoes until they glow.

Pluto is there too, and he is a total pest from the start. Mickey tries to make him stay home, but Pluto is not having it.

The dog follows him to Minnie’s house like a shadow. It reminded me a bit of the persistence you see in Pay Day, just with more barking.

When they get to Minnie's, she is playing the piano. Mickey doesn't just knock on the door like a normal person.

He stands on Pluto’s back to peek through the window. It looks really uncomfortable for the dog.

The animation here is that classic "rubber hose" style. Everything is bouncy and moves to the beat of the music.

Minnie’s hands on the piano keys are just wild. They stretch and grow as she plays. 🎹

Then the cat shows up. This cat is a real jerk.

It starts teasing Pluto through the window. Pluto loses his mind and starts chasing it everywhere.

The chase is the best part of the whole thing. They fly through the yard and then right back into the house.

Cinematic perspective: Exploring the visual vocabulary of Mickey Steps Out (1931) through its definitive frames.

They eventually end up inside the piano. I have no idea how a full-grown dog fits inside a piano, but it’s a cartoon, so whatever.

The noise is incredible. It sounds like a bucket of bolts being thrown down a flight of stairs.

There is this one shot where the piano keys start flying out. They look like teeth being knocked out of a mouth. 🦷

It is a little bit violent if you think about it too much. But the music keeps going so it feels happy.

Pluto gets the player-piano roll stuck on his tail. He runs around with this long trail of paper behind him like a kite.

It’s pure chaos. Mickey and Minnie don't even seem mad that their house is being wrecked.

They just keep dancing while the piano literally falls apart around them. They have their priorities straight, I guess.

The ending feels a bit rushed. Everything is just a pile of junk on the floor.

It has that same energy as Noisy Neighbors where the environment is just an excuse for gags.

The sound quality is a bit scratchy since it’s from 1931. It adds a nice vibe though.

I think I saw a frame skip right when the cat jumps on the stove. Or maybe the cat just moved that fast.

It isn't a masterpiece like some of the later Disney stuff. But it’s got a lot of heart and some really weird visual jokes.

I liked the part where Pluto tries to sniff the cat and his nose grows three inches. It’s just weird animation and I love it.

If you like this, you might also find the weird atmosphere of The Dark Star interesting, even if it's a totally different kind of movie.

Anyway, it’s a good way to spend seven minutes. Just don't expect any deep life lessons from a mouse and a piano roll.