Review of State of the Union (1948) by Matt K — 03 Jan 2010

Far from Capra's best work, but the man is incapable of making an interesting movie. There is a lot to like here, it's just really obvious that it's made out of a play and about 15 minutes could probably be cut as it does start to drag later.

All the performances are good and some of the scenes are a lot of fun and crackle with wit and sharp dialog. Others just lie there. Spencer Tracy and Katherine Hepburn do all they can with those scenes and they alone make them watchable.

This is especially disappointing because it is Capra's direct follow up to his masterpiece, It's a Wonderful Life. This is the perfect kind of movie to catch on TCM, you will be entertained for two hours, but don't bother seeking it out.