It’s normal not
to connect with certain movies, and Duck Soup definitely falls into that
category for me. I understood the concept, but the comedy just isn’t my style.
I didn’t find their outrageous, silly performances funny—it felt like watching Tom
and Jerry on steroids, never knowing when the joke stopped being funny.
Even the
much-anticipated “mirror moment” was an anti-climax because others who’ve
copied it have done it better. This was my first experience with a Marx
Brothers movie, and, honestly, it’s probably my last.
The movie’s plot
is as silly as the movie itself.
The story takes
place in Freedonia, a country constantly relying on financial aid from a
wealthy woman named Mrs. Teasdale (Margaret Dumont). When the country asks her
for help again, she agrees—but only on the condition that Rufus T. Firefly
(Groucho Marx) becomes the new leader.
At this point,
you might expect Firefly to have some impressive credentials to warrant such a
privilege. Then you meet him, and he turns out to be as silly as they come—not
the charming kind of silly, but a mean-spirited silliness that makes you want
to slap the writer of this movie.
As for the
acting and directing, I was far from impressed. I’ve seen other movies from the
1930s with far better editing and execution, so this felt especially
lackluster. Despite this, the movie has somehow achieved cultural significance.
For me, that sets the bar pretty low. Even so, it’s been recognized by the
American Film Institute as one of the funniest movies to watch.
I don’t wish
harm on anyone, but watching this movie made me want to gouge my eyes out from
the boredom it delivered. So, I can’t in good faith recommend it.
The caveat is
this: if over-the-top, exaggerated, and nonsensical humor is your thing, maybe Duck
Soup is for you. But if you’re someone who prefers a good story with comedy as
the cherry on top, this movie isn’t worth your time.
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