Review of Room Service (1938) by Grant S — 21 Apr 2014
OK, but not great, Marx Brothers movie.
Started off well enough. Set up was good, some good one-liners from Groucho and was quite coherent. Middle section had some great sight gags (anything involving the turkey, and Harpo being diagnosed by the doctor, especially).
However, from a point it lost coherence and just got silly. Not ridiculously, unwatchably silly, but just mundane and not too funny.
Overall, the jokes were weaker than their best, and even Groucho's famous wisecracks seemed weaker and fewer-and-further-between.
Performances, given the material, are OK though. Lucille Ball is great in a supporting role, and not just for her acting... Good support too from Ann Miller and Frank Albertson.
Certainly not in the same league as A Night At The Opera or Duck Soup, but reasonably entertaining nevertheless.
This review of Room Service (1938) was written by Grant S on 21 Apr 2014.
Room Service has generally received positive reviews.
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