You Don’t Know What You’re Doin’! (1931)

You Don’t Know What You’re Doin’! Review

You Don’t Know What You’re Doin’! is a 1931 animated short film from the Merry Melodies series. It is an interesting, but problematic movie.

Yes, it goes without saying that this entry is the most original in the series thus far. The animation here is just spectacular and it perfectly conveyed the drunken state through its psychedelic imagery. Really great stuff. The same goes for the score which is terrific and with a very amusing title song. The film is technically magnificent.

But in terms of storytelling and characterization, it isn’t great. It is your typical plot about being drunk and although relevant in its Prohibition Era, now it isn’t all that exciting. The same goes for the characters. Piggy is a newly introduced character here and he is forgettable. He is well designed, but not really realized as a character and I hope that changes in his next installments.

You Don’t Know What You’re Doin’! is weak in terms of plot and character development, but terrific in terms of animation and score.