There's no denying the fun and light silliness in A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum. This movie has all the elements of a comedy I would adore. There's physical gags, situational humor, silly performances, musical numbers, a wacky twist on a "car" chase, and so much more. I did have a good time with the film, and found it enjoyable to explore how Pseudolus would weasel his way out of trouble each time. But I will say, a fast-talking flim-flam artist isn't my favorite kind of protagonist, and Zero Mostel takes his performance so far over the top it's almost impossible for the rest of the cast to match his level of goofiness. But I do like all the other people in this film, and probably laughed more at actors like Phil Silvers and Jack Gilford.
The songs in A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum are extremely catchy. I often think of Sondheim as a guy who wrote more complex and challenging musicals, but it's nice to know he could deliver these kinds of toe-tapping melodies just as well. One of my favorite aspects of the film are all the mix ups, mistaken identities, and surprise reveals. It plays like a screwball comedy which is one of my favorite genres. I think if the setting were not ancient Rome I might be even more enamored with the movie. I've never been into the whole sword-and-sandals thing, so even a satire of those stories isn't really in my wheelhouse. Yet, I can't deny that I had a good time with A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum, and it's one of those movies that entertained me enough I will probably watch it again, and enjoy it even more on rewatch.
The songs in A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum are extremely catchy. I often think of Sondheim as a guy who wrote more complex and challenging musicals, but it's nice to know he could deliver these kinds of toe-tapping melodies just as well. One of my favorite aspects of the film are all the mix ups, mistaken identities, and surprise reveals. It plays like a screwball comedy which is one of my favorite genres. I think if the setting were not ancient Rome I might be even more enamored with the movie. I've never been into the whole sword-and-sandals thing, so even a satire of those stories isn't really in my wheelhouse. Yet, I can't deny that I had a good time with A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum, and it's one of those movies that entertained me enough I will probably watch it again, and enjoy it even more on rewatch.