Rating of
3/4
"Adam's Rib" by Yojimbo
Yojimbo - wrote on 05/11/12
The fact that Hepburn and Tracey are in a film is reason enough to watch it, but this is a particularly good example. A courtroom comedy based on gender politics, the main drawback is obviously in it's age. Sexual politics have clearly progressed somewhat since this was made to the original conceit of the woman scorned having the right to shoot her cheating husband just does not hold up today; the characters involved in the case are all 2 dimensional stereotypes, but that is really just an excuse for Hepburn and Tracey's sparklingly witty exchanges. There are some amusing moments of farce, but it is the intelligence of the writing that raises this above the usual screwball comedy. They are a remarkably believable couple, and unlike the rest of the film, the scenes when they are alone together have not dated at all. Best of all it constantly surprises; just when you think it's going to settle into the usual cliches, it throws another curve ball (including the fact that Hepburn's male admirer is clearly as gay as a window!) Classic comedy from one the the all-time great screen partnerships.
