Edgar Kennedy plays a man put upon by his wife and her super-obnoxious family. In fact, this is the short-coming of this film--these folks are so obnoxious and unlikable that you hate them and they simply aren't the least bit realistic. The bottom line is that they are just too horrible to be funny. Edgar's wife giggles incessantly and seems to excuse any behavior her mother or brother does--any. I just Kennedy to rap her in the mouth! As for the mother and brother, they are jerks who destroy Edgar's brand new car (and almost derail a train in the process), get him fired from his job and treat him like dirt. Had these folks been jerks but not THIS unlikable, I think the film would have worked. And, if the ending had been the least bit funny. As is, it just seemed like the writing was a bit suspect. Yes, it was sometimes quite funny (such as the guy who kept punching Kennedy) but this RKO production just isn't up to the same quality standards as a top film--such as a Laurel & Hardy short. So, despite the direction by a top comedy director (George Stevens--who had made his name directing Laurel & Hardy for Hal Roach Studios), this film comes close to being good but its poor script which lacks subtlety made this one second-rate.
Review of Quiet Please!
Quiet Please!
(1933)
This time, the in-laws were just too nasty to be funny.
8 June 2011
Warning: Spoilers