mark.waltz Review of Here We Go Again

Here We Go Again (1942)

Radio stars get a face in this easy to take farce.

[5/10 · 8 November 2011]

There's nothing but silliness in this RKO programmer comedy with songs that gave radio audiences a chance to view such acts as Edger Bergen (with Charlie McCarthy of course), Fibber McGee and Molly, and the Great McGinty doing what they did best-making audiences laugh. The result is mixed to today's tastes, but there are definitely some very funny moments. There's not much plot (radio stars gather for various reasons at a country resort), so it's mostly gags and a string to hold it together. Bergen is out to catch a rare moth for his collection, while Fibber McGee and Molly celebrate their 20th anniversary with no funds to pay for their hotel bill. Ginny Sims sings (free from the very similar Kay Kuser series of musicals she had been doing), McCarthy wisecracks, and Mortimer Snerd brags about being dumb even without an education. The only disturbing element is the live person (dwarf or child, it is difficult to tell) who stands in for McCarthy during an action sequence, as well as a musical number. It's actually sort of creepy and reminded me of 1978's "Magic" and subsequent "Chuckie" movies. A scientist (sounding surprisingly like Droopy, or possibly Truman Capote) is another one of the oddball characters around. Gale Gordon of "Here's Lucy" is appropriately malevolent as Molly's old flame who is out to win her back. Serious lovers of classic comedy will adore it, but those without any silliness in their hearts will be rolling their eyes.