Whenever you think of classic comedic acts, the Marx brothers are on the top of the list with the likes of Charlie Chaplin and Buster Keaton. I would dare to say, the first big act of the "talkie" era. It had been a while since I had seen this film, but their use of one-liners and physical comedy had always stayed fresh in my mind. Their sense of comedic chaos was always something I admired, so that's why I was very surprised that I couldn't fully enjoy this film as much as I wanted to. A Night at the Opera attempts to reign in their comedy with plot and story-line, and this is one of the few times that I think this is a bad thing.
Groucho, Chico and Harpo play… well, it's a little confusing what roles they actually play, but through their antics they try to bring two lovers together who are talented opera stars. The boyfriend is trying to catch a break, so the Marx brothers ban together to get rid of the evil, leading tenor so he can become famous. Set mainly in the opera house and a cruise ship, the brothers constantly become intruders and stowaways in the name of love.
Don't get me wrong, the movie is funny and that is a key ingredient. The problem lies in the fact that there are story elements that sometimes completely disregard the existence of the Marx brothers. There are musical numbers with the opera singers that are just plain boring, and even when the Marx brothers are featured in a musical number, it comes across more appropriate for one of their vaudeville shows than for the screen. I was often left just waiting for the comedy to kick back in, and trust me, when it does, it's pretty memorable. It's not really until the last scene where the director lets the Marx brothers do what they do best… create comedic anarchy.
At its core, this is still a very entertaining movie. If you've never seen a Marx brothers film, you'll be pining to see more after this one. It's just that I can't wait to watch Duck Soup (their other film on this list) that is more perfectly bound in what the brothers do best. So, maybe this is a better movie to see first so that you are void of disappointment when you see some of their other films.
If I weren't tempted to fast-forward some scenes, this film would definitely receive a better rating from me, but I only blame the director for stifling such great talent.
I give A Night at the Opera 3 out of 5 crowded cruise rooms.
