Review of It's a Gift (1923) by Jim H — 03 Aug 2013
A shop owner comes into an inheritance and moves his family to California.
Filled with physical bits and an occasional wise-crack, It's a Gift showcases W.C. Fields's vaudevillian humor. But the bits are in slow motion, like watching underwater comedy, and the wise-cracks aren't all that wise. Some of the - "kumquats!" - moments that thrive on - "kumquats!" - repetition are - "kumquats!" - more annoying than - "kumquats!" - funny. In terms of character development, the stock annoying wife character is never seriously or humorously dealt with, and there's nothing about Harold's character that makes us celebrate his eventual success.
Overall, I had hoped to like Fields, who was billed as a equal of Groucho Marx, but I was disappointed.
This review of It's a Gift (1923) was written by Jim H on 03 Aug 2013.
It's a Gift has generally received positive reviews.
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