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Reviews
No Time for Love (1943)
I love this movie!
Yes, it is dated and sexist and kinda clichéd. You can also say that for most comedies of this era. BUT - this is one of the funniest movies I've ever seen. It has it all: snappy dialogue, perfectly delivered by a stellar cast; loads of broad physical humor; moments you won't believe got past the censors:
Ryan: it was so late when I finished, that-- Katherine: Finished what? Ryan: Are you kidding?
Colbert and MacMurray's supporting cast really shine too. June Havoc as the ditsy Darlene ("Hey, my face was open!"), Richard Haydn as Roger, the composer ("What am I supposed to do here, there isn't even a piano!") and of course, Ilka Chase as Katherine's sister Hoppy, who delivers one of the best comedic lines in movie history: "Doorbells should ring once, then electrocute the ringer."
This has been one of my favorite films for years, so I was thrilled when it was finally released on DVD as part of a Claudette Colbert collection. Do yourself a favor and pick it up...there are five other fun films in the collection, but none top "No Time for Love."
A Day Without a Mexican (2004)
Well, I enjoyed it...
OK, it did run a BIT too long, but other than that, I thought this was a fun mockumentary that also made it's point - if all the Mexicans suddenly disappeared, here's what would happen to the California economy. The suppositions presented seem logical, and based on fact.
Minor "spoiler" follows: As for the plot, well, they COULD have done a bit more with the fog than just "stay out of it". That was really the only bit that bothered me afterward - no one seemed to be doing anything to figure out just what the fog was.
Wow - I just came here to email a link to some friends, recommending this film. I was surprised at the nasty, racist comments left by many IMDBers. Shame on you!
Bedazzled (1967)
An all-time favorite
I just watched Bedazzled again last week, for the umpteenth time. And no matter how many times I watch this film, I crack up. There are so many hysterical lines and humorous visual gags...I just can't praise it enough!
IMHO, the best moments in the film occur not during the "7 wishes" sequences, but during the conversations between Stanley Moon and the Devil:
Stanley: "You're a nut-case! You're a bleedin' nut-case!" Devil: "They said the same about Freud, Einstein and Gallileo." Stanley: "They said it about a lot of nut-cases, too!" Devil: "You're not as dumb as you look, are you Stanley?"
"So you really are the Devil." "Incarnate."
Devil: "Well, for one thing, he's (God) omni-present. That only means he's everywhere, all the time. I'm just highly maneuverable." Stanley: "So he's here in the van right now?" Devil: "He's in the van, he's in the can, he's in the trees, he's in the breeze, he's in your hair, he's everywhere. There's no privacy for anybody. [glaring upwards, to God:] GET OUT! Get out of here while we're changing our clothes!" Stanley: "You won't get anywhere shouting at him, you know." Devil: "You're right; I should take the humble approach. [gazing upward, to God] "Excuse me your ineffable hugeness; would you mind stepping out of the van for a moment while we miserable worms get our drawers on?" Stanley: "I can't say you sounded too sincere, mate." [Devil kicks Stanley in the butt] Stanley: "Hey! What are you on about?" Devil: "I just wanted to give him a turn. I saw him nestling in your trousers."
Dudley Moore is the perfect loser nebish, and Peter Cook perfectly devilish as the unholy one.
Ok, I'll stop now. Maybe one can see a film too many times. However, in the future, I will continue to dig out my videotape of Bedazzled a couple times a year, and wish that someone today would make funny, intelligent movies like this (actually, "Dogma" is pretty good, too. Another take on the whole god-thing. A fun double feature!).