This film stars Charlie Ruggles and it's pretty easy to enjoy his nice laid-back persona. And, later in the film, W.C. Fields becomes an important character...so there is a lot to like. However, I didn't welcome the addition of Burns & Allen, as their characters, inexplicably, seemed a lot more selfish and nasty than normal for them. This, combined with only a tepid appreciation of the team, made this a harder than expected film to watch--though it did have some nice moments.
The movie finds Ruggles and his wife (the perennially perturbed and scatter-brained Mary Boland) planning on a second honeymoon. This is in the form of a marathon drive cross-country to Hollywood where they'll enjoy a single day! Now the idea of this being a second honeymoon is a bit far-fetched to begin with, though Boland makes this trip a lot more unbearable by seeking out another couple to come along and share expenses. Here, not surprisingly, is where Burns & Allen come into the picture. Now having the ditsy Gracie come along could have been cute--especially when paired with Boland. However, she and George came off as boorish and selfish instead of funny. First, when it's time to leave, they arrive with a 150 pound dog who takes up half the car. Couldn't George have warned them? This seemed less funny than pushy. Then, throughout the trip, the pair pushed Ruggles and Boland to dramatically alter their plans--including sleeping arrangements (when they forget to mention that they are not married and George will need to room with Charlie, and Grace with Mary).
In addition to the fun of watching Burns & Allen ruin the trip, there is another unexpected wrinkle. It seems that a co-worker of Ruggles is an embezzler and decides to use Charlie and his wife as part of his scheme--hiding the money in their car and diverting suspicion to them. The plan is to follow them and steal the bag with the money--leaving the police to arrest Ruggles for embezzling his employer's money. But, when George and Gracie insist on going a different route, the embezzler cannot find them and is afraid he'll never get the cash.
Now into this mess comes Fields in a nice small role. He plays his usual self--and that is always wonderful. What will happen next? Will Charlie go to the hoosegow? Will they ultimately murder Burns & Allen (I sure hoped they would)? Tune in to see...but don't expect magic. I'd have much preferred a Ruggles or Fields film...not this odd combination.
The movie finds Ruggles and his wife (the perennially perturbed and scatter-brained Mary Boland) planning on a second honeymoon. This is in the form of a marathon drive cross-country to Hollywood where they'll enjoy a single day! Now the idea of this being a second honeymoon is a bit far-fetched to begin with, though Boland makes this trip a lot more unbearable by seeking out another couple to come along and share expenses. Here, not surprisingly, is where Burns & Allen come into the picture. Now having the ditsy Gracie come along could have been cute--especially when paired with Boland. However, she and George came off as boorish and selfish instead of funny. First, when it's time to leave, they arrive with a 150 pound dog who takes up half the car. Couldn't George have warned them? This seemed less funny than pushy. Then, throughout the trip, the pair pushed Ruggles and Boland to dramatically alter their plans--including sleeping arrangements (when they forget to mention that they are not married and George will need to room with Charlie, and Grace with Mary).
In addition to the fun of watching Burns & Allen ruin the trip, there is another unexpected wrinkle. It seems that a co-worker of Ruggles is an embezzler and decides to use Charlie and his wife as part of his scheme--hiding the money in their car and diverting suspicion to them. The plan is to follow them and steal the bag with the money--leaving the police to arrest Ruggles for embezzling his employer's money. But, when George and Gracie insist on going a different route, the embezzler cannot find them and is afraid he'll never get the cash.
Now into this mess comes Fields in a nice small role. He plays his usual self--and that is always wonderful. What will happen next? Will Charlie go to the hoosegow? Will they ultimately murder Burns & Allen (I sure hoped they would)? Tune in to see...but don't expect magic. I'd have much preferred a Ruggles or Fields film...not this odd combination.