Irene Dunne and Cary Grant, "superstars" of their era, don't quite have the chemistry that Grant had with other of his co-stars, like Rosalind Russell in "My Girl Friday." But this is an interesting if predictable example of the Screwball Comedy era. and, as in "My Girl Friday," Ralph Bellamy is the foil for the out-of-love, then back-in-love pair.
Ms. Dunne's stardom has largely been forgotten, unlike Grant's, and few contemporary film-goers are likely to remember Leo McCarey, the director. But Dunne is delightful and McCarey was a successful director, though out of his element here.
The problem, in addition to feeble chemistry between the leading stars, is that "The Awful Truth" leans much too heavily on slapstick to qualify as a sterling exemplar of the genre. The dialog and the pace of the movie are a little off and Bellamy isn't at all convincing in his role as the rich Oklahoma businessman with the meddling Mama who wants to take Dunne away from Grant and Manhattan to Oklahoma City. Furthermore, Grant is asked to try much too hard to supply the physical side on which the laughs depend.
The movie makes for a pleasant 90 minutes and is worth seeing, if only as a window on Ms. Dunne's considerable talent. But it doesn't belong in the Screwball Comedy pantheon.
Ms. Dunne's stardom has largely been forgotten, unlike Grant's, and few contemporary film-goers are likely to remember Leo McCarey, the director. But Dunne is delightful and McCarey was a successful director, though out of his element here.
The problem, in addition to feeble chemistry between the leading stars, is that "The Awful Truth" leans much too heavily on slapstick to qualify as a sterling exemplar of the genre. The dialog and the pace of the movie are a little off and Bellamy isn't at all convincing in his role as the rich Oklahoma businessman with the meddling Mama who wants to take Dunne away from Grant and Manhattan to Oklahoma City. Furthermore, Grant is asked to try much too hard to supply the physical side on which the laughs depend.
The movie makes for a pleasant 90 minutes and is worth seeing, if only as a window on Ms. Dunne's considerable talent. But it doesn't belong in the Screwball Comedy pantheon.