ophelia_hardin

Cameraman must have Parkinson's or the budget was too low to buy a tripod. After 15 minutes I sampled a couple other episodes and realized I'd probably need a barf bag if I were to watch more of this hum-drum police procedural because of the nausea induced by all that wavering, quivering, oh-so-artful cinematography. Thanks, but no thanks.

Obviously a stage play adapted for the screen but instead of a series of comical vignettes we're treated to course after course of bland half-hearted scenes which don't capture the competition and conflict between the characters, nor the humor.

It tries at both and succeeds at neither, which is a shame because with either better direction or better delivery, chiefly by Wm Powell, this could have been amusing.

I saw the "Newly Restored" version on Amazon streaming in May, 2021 and the resolution was mediocre and the color, whew! It might have been Technicolor once but it looks like a Ted Turner colorized version of a B&W film.

Taylor looks good in a corset but she doesn't have much screen time and does little more than smile and add to the scenery.

The pacing of this film is notable because it never rises to great heights nor sinks to anything slightly below fart jokes. It's an even-keeled journey following four dimwits as they make their way through Europe on college holiday toward Amsterdam, dealing with trials, tribulations, and obstacles along the way.

On arrival they are met by more mishap and misadventure but manage to pull through by virtue of happenstance, pluck, and sheer ignorance.

The actors, and their characters, pull it off with the typical dry and ironic humor only the Brits have mastered. All are very charming.

The movie is sweet, almost juvenile, completely stoopid, and I will probably watch it again because I probably missed a lot of the subtle sight gags.