Review of Baby Doll (1982) by J C — 14 May 2008

A movie I feel like I have waited an eternity to see. Maybe that's what led to my disappointment, maybe it was the fact that it was a Kazan film with an original screenplay by Tennessee Williams? In any case, I expected a lot and felt little.

Baby Doll. Could there be any more provocative a title? Coupled with the poster art, and this film looks like it could burn down a theatre. Unfortunately, this film was far less sensational than the title and poster would suggest. In fact, it was quite dull. Elia Kazan is a director I have an infinite amount of respect for. However, this respect leads me to have certain expectations. I guess there is nothing really wrong with this film. There just isn't anything that great about it. The central conflict involving Baby Doll and her unlikely husband is quite engaging and funny, but the conflicts that arise later in the plot seem clumsy, stupid, and not worthy of our attention.

Eli Wallach's acting is horribly over the top and the racial stereotype of an Italian American seems all the more ridiculous when played by someone as clearly Jewish as him. Carroll Baker and Karl Malden both give good performances, but the real problem is the screenplay. There just isn't much to work with. In the end, the resolution feels unsatisfying and sappy. You are left wondering why you volunteered two hours of your life for a story without direction, without believable characters, and without anything special. Skip this one.