I admire a lot of the musical parts of BABES ON BROADWAY. "How About You" is a lovely song, and Rooney and Garland are sweet together performing it (and all their other scenes). The Carmen Miranda spoof is funny, the "Hoe Down" number is wonderful, and the three boys do a nifty routine about New York in the beginning.
However. B.O.B. has, I think, the most bland prefab plot and dialogue of any Judy-Mickey musical, and that takes up more time in the film than the songs and dances--and even those aren't ALL good, especially the one Garland sings in honor of the British refugee children. Richard Quine, Ray McDonald and Virginia Weidler are charming and interact just great with the two stars; if the story had more of those three, if there were more attempts at humor, and if everything was less sappy (or if the sappiness at least felt more sincere), then I would like the film, but as it is, my fast forward button gets a workout every time I watch it.
However. B.O.B. has, I think, the most bland prefab plot and dialogue of any Judy-Mickey musical, and that takes up more time in the film than the songs and dances--and even those aren't ALL good, especially the one Garland sings in honor of the British refugee children. Richard Quine, Ray McDonald and Virginia Weidler are charming and interact just great with the two stars; if the story had more of those three, if there were more attempts at humor, and if everything was less sappy (or if the sappiness at least felt more sincere), then I would like the film, but as it is, my fast forward button gets a workout every time I watch it.