"Joy of Living" is an awfully bad film. I know that some other reviewers were pretty positive about this one, but I found it horribly written and, at times, tedious. Part of the problem is also due to Irene Dunne's singing--which is so high-pitched that you wonder if it would soon become impossible for anyone but dogs to hear it!
Dunne plays a successful but highly put upon Broadway star. Not only is her extended family made up of a bunch of spongers, but she has an annoying stalker (Douglas Fairbanks Jr.) who continually annoys her. It culminates with him being taken to court for this and the judge (insanely) appoints Dunne to be his probation officer! On what planet does this make sense? What also makes sense is that the film is intended as a romantic-comedy--although what about stalking is romantic or funny, I have no idea! It begs you to question who would think any of this would make sense?! And, given that Dunne was a star, you wonder why she would agree to be in such a bizarre and irrational picture. It would seem to promote stalking as a great way to fall in love and get close to famous women!!
All in all, this is a terribly forced comedy--one that isn't particularly funny and one that marks a low point in the careers of both Dunne and Fairbanks. I cannot understand the positive reviews for such a badly written and horribly contrived film--let alone the insane message that stalking is pretty cool!!!
Dunne plays a successful but highly put upon Broadway star. Not only is her extended family made up of a bunch of spongers, but she has an annoying stalker (Douglas Fairbanks Jr.) who continually annoys her. It culminates with him being taken to court for this and the judge (insanely) appoints Dunne to be his probation officer! On what planet does this make sense? What also makes sense is that the film is intended as a romantic-comedy--although what about stalking is romantic or funny, I have no idea! It begs you to question who would think any of this would make sense?! And, given that Dunne was a star, you wonder why she would agree to be in such a bizarre and irrational picture. It would seem to promote stalking as a great way to fall in love and get close to famous women!!
All in all, this is a terribly forced comedy--one that isn't particularly funny and one that marks a low point in the careers of both Dunne and Fairbanks. I cannot understand the positive reviews for such a badly written and horribly contrived film--let alone the insane message that stalking is pretty cool!!!