The Terrytoons are oddly interesting, mainly for anybody wanting to see (generally) older cartoons made by lesser known and lower-budget studios. They are a mixed bag in quality, with some better than others, often with outstanding music and with some mild amusement and charm and variable in animation, characterisation and content.
'Jazz Mad' is another 1931 Terrytoon that is decent and worth watching but doesn't blow the mind. Its main reason is mainly for anybody striving to see every Terrytoons available like me. Again though that is not the sole reason, there is much more to 'Jazz Mad' than that.
It does start off very bland with too few gags with very little to them, let alone funny or imaginative, and a lack of energy.
Animation is uneven. It gets better as it gets on with the backgrounds getting more detailed, but it starts off very crude and simplistic. The story as ever with Terrytoons is basic and obvious.
However, as said, 'Jazz Mad' gets much better after a false first impression. As said, the backgrounds show more detail and ambition and the character designs become marginally more appealing if still lacking finesse.
The gags are funnier, not hilarious but amusing, better-timed and more inventive. The pace is livelier, there is more charm that is natural and unforced, more risk-taking and characters that hit the right notes without blowing the mind.
Best component is the music, not surprising as it was true for all of Terrytoons' output, which is outstanding. It is so beautifully and cleverly orchestrated and arranged, is great fun to listen to and full of lively energy, doing so well with enhancing the action.
Overall, not mind-blowing but decent fun. 7/10 Bethany Cox