Here We Go Again

I agree that it brings back to memory a time when people were proud of their country. We could all take lessons from a time in our history when it wasn't "all about me". I hate to be preachy so I'll talk about the movie. There wasn't much storyline, but if you like their old time radio show you will love this flick. The musical numbers are great & so are the characters. I hope you will watch it & enjoy it as much as My wife & I (& kids) did. It helped to introduce my kids to OTR. They already liked Abbott & Costello movies (they didn't know about their OTR shows), but really started to enjoy Fibber McGee & Molly as a result of this movie. It put a face to the voices of Gildy & Wimple (who they already knew as the voice of Droopy). It's not often you can be so entertained by a "history lesson" is it?

"Fibber McGee and Molly" was an enormously popular radio program during the 1930s and 40s. Not surprisingly, this resulted in six movies...including this third one in the series. Unfortunately, I've never heard their radio show nor have I seen any of their films, so perhaps others can better judge how good this film is if you are a fan.

In addition to these characters, the film features radio stars, Throckmorton Gildersleeve of "The Great Gildersleeve". And, like Fibber McGee and Molly, he made a few films...which I really enjoyed. The same goes for Edger Bergen...who made a name for himself on the radio and in films as well.

In this story, the McGees are having an anniversary. When their plans for a party fall through, they decide on a second honeymoon. Unfortunately, the first place they go to is a real dump...so they decide to try another hotel. Unfortunately, it's a very expensive one and Fibber wonders how they can afford it. What's worse...Molly's old boyfriend (Gale Gordon) is there...and Fibber can't stand the guy. Does he have good reason? See the film and see for yourself.

This is a mildly enjoyable film. Nothing exceptional but pleasant and fun...and well worth seeing even if you are not familiar with these radio acts.

The first movie with Fibber McGee & Molly, Edgar Bergen & Charlie McCarthy, and The Great Gildersleeve was "Look Who's Laughing". It was a cute little outing set in the FM & M hometown of Wistful Vista. This one is one too many. The plot is a little too contrived and the scenes uninspired, even by the relaxed standards of a cheap movie inspired by a radio sitcom.

The early scene as Fibber McGee and Molly try to enjoy a second honeymoon at a shabby lakeside resort and the scenes as Bergen & McCarthy try to camp out in the country are good. Other than that, the rest is "strictly from hunger" as the saying used to go. It's a brisk tale about how the McGees want to take the rest of their second honeymoon at a nicer resort than they can afford, so they run up a bill they can't pay. Then Molly's ex-boyfriend offers a way out: help him sell an investment in a synthetic gasoline concoction to Edgar Bergen.

Above all, the pacing of the film is way too harsh. Beyond that, the musical sequences are lame and the closing chase is perfunctory. This is clearly a cheap cash-in sequel.

That said, some will enjoy it. It's wholesome entertainment and will be well-received by most of those who are into the original radio characters. But those who like "Look Who's Laughing" will probably find this to be a weak follow-up.

What a delightful surprise—the radio characters are just as funny on the screen as off. Middle-age couples have seldom starred in Hollywood features, but the Jordan's make engaging anchors of their small town Fibber McGee and Molly. I love the barbs McGee trades with the rotund Gildersleeve (Peary), carry-overs from the radio show. Then there's the ethically challenged Cadwallader (Gordon) as McGee's rival. Will he manage to come between radio's best-known married couple. The barbs are amusing without being mean-spirited. And, of course, there's the wooden little gentleman Charlie McCarthy trading quips with the best of them, or should I say Bergen trading quips. Sometimes it's hard to tell. Even the intellectually challenged Mortimer Snerd makes the most of his face time.

What really makes this comedic mix work is Allan Dwan's expert staging and direction. That cliff-hanging climax really winds things up with a bang. Too bad Dwan is almost forgotten. His Up in Mabel's Room (1944) and Getting Gertie's Garter (1945) remain two of the funniest bedroom farces of that period. Note here how he works a bevy of shapely girls into the visuals, adding eye appeal to the middle-age stars, plus of course the sparkling Ginny Simms. Oh sure, much of the humor comes from a gentler time when small town America was still the norm. Yet, I defy even today's young sophisticates not to crack more than a few smiles at the nonsensical goings-on of this delightful little programmer.

Fibber McGee and his other half Molly are having their 20th anniversary, but when a party that was poorly planned falls through they decide to go back to the honeymoon lodge where they spent those heavenly honeymoon days. But that place has truly gone to seed.

They move out to the new resort across the lake where they run into all kinds of people including the McGee's neighbor Throckmorton P. Gildersleeve soon to get his own radio series and Edgar Bergen with his two wooden chums Charlie McCarthy and Mortimer Snerd. Ginny Simms one of the best singers of the 40s is also here playing Gildersleeve's niece.

James and Marian Jordan who were Fibber McGee and Molly never quite got the big screen acclaim and couldn't transfer the appeal of that show to television. Still it's an enduring favorite as this movie demonstrates.