Rating of
3.5/4
Review - You Can't Take It with You (1938)
Delorted - wrote on 04/13/08
Martin Vanderhof (Lionel Barrymore) and his family lived the way they pleased and did what they liked. But when a big corporation wanted to buy out their neighborhood, they fight back in the only way they know how in the Best Picture winning film “You Can't Take It with You.”
What can I say about such a movie? It has just about everything you could want out of a movie of its time. Romance, comedy, and a moral worth remembering. The chemistry between each character is truly believable, especially that of Tony Kirby (James Stewart) and Alice Sycamore (Jean Arthur). The entire ensemble is one of the best I've ever seen because while each character is drastically different than the next, they all work together on screen in such a way that you can't help but smile.
I have seen the stage production on which the movie is based, and while there are many changes made for the silver screen, I actually prefer them. They focus more on the relationship between Tony and Alice than on stage, which not only helps bring more unity to the story, but also showcases the talents of Arthur and Stewart.
“You Can't Take It with You” is a joyous experience to watch, one which I feel I can guarantee will entertain. While it's not a perfect movie, particularly in technical aspects, it is one of the most enjoyable films of its era.
Acting: 9/10
Writing: 9/10
Video/Editing: 7/10
Audio/Music: 8/10
Entertainment: 10/10
Final Score: 8.6/10
