Review of You Can't Take It with You (1938) by Michael Y — 31 Jan 2011

This Best Picture winner is a classic story of the lower class citizens and the rich class. This perky comedy just gets better and better while you watch.

Adapted from the play, You Can't Take It With You is about a daughter of a fun-loving and spitited family who begins dating the son of a rich and greedy banking familywho's trying to buy off the girl's family's property. Though the two are in love, they find embarrassment and hard times when their families meet. I'll admit, this movie didn't catch my interest at first. Then the movie became cuter, then became funnier, then became more interesting. This comedy also improves on the acting as it moves along, and with famous stars like James Stewart (a scary young James Stewart) and Lionel Barrymore, shame on me for doubting them.

This movie does improve in it's directing as well. At first it's on set design and filming style was a bit too cliche for me, but as the story evolved, so did the directing. More in depth shots started so arise to capture the emotions of the characters in great ways.

This movie was one that took me by surprise. It's only for people who love the classic movies, but this movie has a great charm to it if you let it sink in. It's theme's about social class and the wealth of money compared to the wealth of life is such a classic story, and this movie shows it quite well. So check this movie out if you want to be scared about how young James Stewart looks.