LIFE IS NOT SERIOUS THE WHOLE TIME : "THE MARX BROTHERS AT THE CIRCUS"

Ok, I’m looking back on this week’s fare and I think it’s turning out a little too serious and sad. Well, that’s the funny thing about cinema, when you say “classic” or “artistic” or “important film” one somehow thinks of something rather serious and sad – ideally a little hard to understand. But no, there are such things as classic comedies as well; these are guys that you really should have seen if you’re really into cinema. Sometimes they are a little older than what you are used to – Charlie Chaplin for instance or Laurel and Hardy – but, even if they date from the silent era like those guys, they are still able to glide onto your screen and cause you to split your sides… Now if anyone and I mean ANYONE deserves a place up there with the comedy greats of cinema, it is the Marx Brothers. Their classic movie “Duck Soup” is still considered by and large one of the funniest films ever made. Personally, just seeing Groucho Marx on a screen brings a smile to my face (so you could say that I am rather prejudiced!). This little gem is another one of my bargain basement discoveries. It is an absolute side-splitter and has the pronounced advantage of being just 83 minutes long, a bite sized classic that is guaranteed to wash away all your cares.
Welcome to Wilson’s Wonder Circus! One of the best three-ringed circuses in the world! And although it seems to be filled with everything you could desire from a circus, there are black clouds circling above the tents. Mr. Wilson is young, good looking and has followed his heart in more senses than one as his rich widowed aunt has disinherited him because of his love of the circus, but also because the love of his life is one of the circus performers, Julie. The only problem is that Wilson owes the manager Mr. Carter 10 000$ - by the end of the week! If he cannot come up with the money, he will lose the circus and become completely destitute. Mr. Carter however, is determined not to play nice. He doesn’t want to hand the circus over to Wilson, so he comes up with a cunning plan. The night Wilson finally gets together to pay the debt – the money is stolen! Wilson is distraught, but luckily he is not alone. The circus dogs body Tony (Chico) and the slightly eccentric and mute circus mascot Punchy (Harpo – as if he needed an introduction) are on the case. And in their arsenal they have another big weapon: Mr. Loophole, Legal Eagle (Groucho of course). Will Mr. Wilson be saved? Or in the well-meant efforts will our three friends destroy the circus entirely?
This is a typical, old fashioned Marx Brothers comedy. Good, old-fashioned entertainment, broken up with songs (I am still humming “Lydia the tattooed Lady” to myself as I write the review the next day) and classic, old-fashioned sketches… As always, Groucho’s appearance on scene heralds a steady stream of one-liners and jokes that come pouring out at a rate and in a style that will make the most stony-faced of you split their sides… The brothers will do everything from walking on walls to leading blues quires for your amusement, and all you have to do is to cut all logic adrift kick back and enjoy. I will not go on talking about it for too long, I mean it’s the Marx brothers we’re talking about here, they don’t need an introduction, you on the other hand, need to stop reading about it but sit down and enjoy the sensation that is the Marx brothers… You know you’re taking no risk here… Step right in…