Rating of
4/4
Duck Soup review
Daniel Corleone - wrote on 05/10/13
Some movies deserve to be in one of the greatest film's list, this is testament to being an accurate inclusion. Definitely the funniest war related comedy that this reviewer has seen. Fantastic screenplay, influential and impeccable comic timing while it's premise ahead of its time which never feels dated. Rich Mrs. Teasdale (Margaret Dumont) appoints Rufus T. Firefly (Groucho Marx) to head a bankrupt country Freedonia. Sylvanian ambassador Trentino (Louis Calhern) hires a pair of spies Chicolini (Chico Marx) and Pinky (Harpo Marx) to check on Firefly. Firefly entrusts the war plans to Mrs. Teasdale's possession. So many memorable funny lines, these standout for this reviewer: "You didn't think they were important? Do you realize I had my dessert wrapped in those papers?" "Gentlemen, Chicolini here may talk like an idiot, and look like an idiot, but don't let that fool you: he really is an idiot." and "Oh, I see, then it was murder. Will you marry me? Did he leave you any money? Answer the second question first." from Firefly. From the song - "If you think you're paying too much now, just wait till I get through with it!"
Only reservations were the musical aspect since it prolongs the plot and odd man out unfunny Lt. Bob Roland (Zeppo Marx). Other than that, the score, performances, overall comedic sequences were hilarious, which is the most important thing for its genre. Pinky the silent comedian with the scissors, Chicolini is the wise cracking spy and the childish Rufus just shines from beginning to end. Duck Soup can still hold its own compared to dreary comedies of late. This critic even enjoyed this more than the popular war-comedies like M*A*S*H or Dr. Strangelove and The Dictator of Sasha Cohen. Duck Soup not only touches on the effects of war, corruption, bad behavior, and view of women, it also parodies musicals and is definitely one of the earlier jokes per minute picture which was very effective. It may have an unbelievable idea, it is still one of the funniest movies to come out from it's era.
