Review of Bringing Up Baby (1938) by Itamar K — 11 Mar 2011

Out of hundreds of romantic comedies made at the time, this is one of the strangest, and the fascinating thing about it is that it was ever made. While it's notable for being zanier than almost anything else made in the 30's and 40's, the film itself doesn't hold its own very well, and it feels incredibly dated.

Katharine Hepburn does a good job but Cary Grant is at his most wooden, their comedic chemistry is non-existent, and the pacing is totally off. Howard Hawks did better with other films like Arsenic and Old Lace, which was more dynamic and still remains funny; Bringing Up Baby has its place in history but it's aged badly.