Boy… comedy has come a long way. I know people get all nostalgic for these old zany comedies, and they are fun to watch simply as a historical exercise, if nothing else. But, as for the actual funniness of it? Uh… I just don’t know. Maybe I’m just guilty of applying my 21st century sensibilities, but watching Harpo Marx stalk and attempt to rape some hapless girl made me cringe, not chuckle.
Anyway, the basic plot device of the stolen and re-stolen painting was sort-of funny… and I think with a little work, there’s something that’d um… work for today’s audience there. There are some funny nuggets sprinkled throughout. But mostly, I feel a bit sad for our lost innocence – oh for the days when it was good enough to watch a bunch of adults being goofy on screen.