I didn't care for the first 1/3 of the film. To me the bright spot in the beginning was the newspaper publisher who gave the film needed energy. Then Melvyn Douglas' pursuit of Irene Dunne might have seemed charming in a different era, but it rankled me.
The picture picked up steam as it went along. The banter and screwball table turning was fun. Weaknesses of both small town and big city life were touched on, but the picture was never mean-spirited.
As one writer noted, it's very much like Miracle at Morgan Creek. Both have appealing, enthusiastic performances. Thomas Mitchell, Irene Dunne, and Melvyn Douglas all do a great job. It may not rank up there with 20th Century or the best of Preston Sturges, but it is definitely above average.
The picture picked up steam as it went along. The banter and screwball table turning was fun. Weaknesses of both small town and big city life were touched on, but the picture was never mean-spirited.
As one writer noted, it's very much like Miracle at Morgan Creek. Both have appealing, enthusiastic performances. Thomas Mitchell, Irene Dunne, and Melvyn Douglas all do a great job. It may not rank up there with 20th Century or the best of Preston Sturges, but it is definitely above average.