Amusing and charming, though over-cuteness did come through in some efforts and the stories were always pretty thin, with appealing characters, outstanding music and visuals that were inventive and with innovative animation techniques.
Ko-Ko similarly was an always amiable character to watch and among the better recurring characters in Fleischer's early work. Likewise, his series of Out of the Inkwell cartoons were among the best early efforts of Fleischer and silent cartoons in general. Fleischer may not be at his very finest but 'Surprise' is among the best of the Ko-Ko cartoons. It is impossible to dislike it and it always puts a smile on my face.
'Surprise' is formulaic story-wise, the outcome is obvious early on. When one is having so much fun and when some of it is great in its strangeness it doesn't matter so much.
The character interplay is truly delightful and the mix of animation and live action and how they blend is seamless.
One expects the animation to be primitive and very low quality, judging by that it's the 20s when animation techniques were not as many, as refined, as ambitious and in their infancy. While Fleischer became more refined and inventive later certainly, the animation is surprisingly good with some nice visual wackiness and wit. The live action also looks good.
It all goes at a bright and breezy pace, while there are a fair share of funny and suitably wild, well-timed and clever moments, also some of the most imaginative and cleverest of the early Ko-Ko cartoons with the dream-like feel of some of the atmosphere. Ko-Ko as ever is very likeable and amusing and Max is terrific fun. The chemistry between the two is one of the cartoon's biggest pleasures.
All in all, one of Ko-Ko's best. 9/10 Bethany Cox