Plantiana Yawn. Poorly Filmed Snooze Fest.

Matialth Good concept, poorly executed.

SanEat A film with more than the usual spoiler issues. Talking about it in any detail feels akin to handing you a gift-wrapped present and saying, "I hope you like it -- It's a thriller about a diabolical secret experiment."

AshUnow This is a small, humorous movie in some ways, but it has a huge heart. What a nice experience.

csteidler Joan Blondell is waiting in a restaurant. "Honestly, I should have my head examined," she says. "The world is full of nice normal men and I become engaged to a crazy cop." The crazy cop is Melvyn Douglas, ambitious young police detective constantly tugged between his job on the one hand and his fiancée on the other. Blondell wants a little of Douglas's time - but for some reason homicide chief Clarence Kolb is intent on making Douglas work as many nights as possible, causing him to miss dates with Blondell.Kolb's wicked plots to keep Douglas focused on his job involve enthusiastic assistance from goofy fellow cops Don Beddoe and Donald MacBride. Blondell herself works in the mayor's office across the courtyard from the cops, with co-worker Ruth Donnelly on hand to supply sardonic cracks. A hilarious early episode features Douglas escorting convict Ed Brophy to prison to begin a 40-year stretch. Not wanting to miss an appointment with Blondell, Douglas stops off at her apartment, introduces Brophy as a pal, and they go out for a day at the beach....Blondell's frustration with Douglas and his darn detective work builds and builds - until suddenly Douglas is arrested and it's up to Blondell herself to track down a key clue and save an innocent man. All of a sudden she's gung ho:Donnelly: "You're crazy - what do you know about being a detective?" Blondell: "Everything! Watch me."It's a silly story but this cast sure makes it a lot of fun - right down to the closing gag, which you can see coming from a mile away but is hilarious nevertheless.

vincentlynch-moonoi Most films require us to suspend belief to some extent. But this one goes a little too far to set up the premise -- that in order to not disappoint a fiancé, that a police detective would wine and dine a gangster headed to prison, rather than renege on a date. Okay, so you've got to swallow pretty hard to choke down that premise. But, if you can, this is a pleasant enough comedy.In fact, there are a number of minor issues throughout the film that make it illogical, but it's still fun. The two stars -- Melvyn Douglas and Joan Blondell -- have really good screen chemistry. As a result, I was able to overlook some of the problems with the script.Except for movie buffs, Douglas and Blondell are largely forgotten actors today. And that's a shame. In their day they could certainly carry a film. Melvyn Douglas, in particular, was quite adept at comedy or drama. Here, Douglas demonstrates his flair for comedy. Joan Blondell was a prolific screen actress, and I usually associate her with comedy.The supporting actors here do nicely. While you may not remember their names, you'll certainly recognize their faces. Of particular note: Clarence Kolb, here playing the police captain (though he always reminds me of the old man with all the money in the Monopoly game). Ruth Donelly as Blondell's best friend. Edward Brophy as the gangster. Donald MacBride as a detective (and sometimes referred to as the King of the Slow Burn).This movie is no great shakes, but is pleasant enough.

gmboothe The only other review of this movie as of this date really trashes the stars and the movie itself. I usually like to read the user comments to give me an idea of what to expect from a movie I don't know much about. It's unfortunate when there aren't many comments for a certain tile, because when there is only one review and it unreasonably trashes the movie and cast, you don't get an idea of what to expect. I read the review before watching this title and I don't know where all the venom for this movie and the stars came from. Douglas and Blondell were both very talented and attractive people who usually delivered, even when the material was not the greatest. I found the movie and the performances fun and enjoyable. It isn't one of the great all-time classics, but a pleasant and funny diversion-much more than you can hope for in most newer movies. If you are a fan of these stars, you will not be disappointed.

boundbc Delightful minor film, juggling comedy and detective, romance and drama genres as nimbly as Lt Kenny Williams (Melvyn Douglas) balances his devotion to his girl Maxine Carroll (Joan Blondell) and his duty to the force as an ace detective.This hodge-podge may not appeal to all viewers today, but in its day, it had something to offer every member of the movie-going family, and the resolution to the rather tired feeling-versus-duty plot is original and refreshing, and well worth the wait. "The Amazing Mr. Williams" contains what must be among the most outrageous blind dates in film history, and its bright comic repartee sparkles. Ludicrously frocked, Melvyn Douglas delivers some of the best lines: "I'd walk down Main Street in a Turkish towel before I'd let any woman control my life!" And the effervescent Joan Blondell lets her barbs fly with typical aplomb: "Good grief! You look like my Aunt Nellie!' The crime-solving here is standard fare, although a fine cast of character actors helps bring the material to life. From today's vantage point, "The Amazing Mr. Williams" is perhaps most interesting for its insightful commentary on gender as a socially defined construct, all the more malleable for its seemingly rigid boundaries. While much of the gender commentary takes place in a superficial battle of the sexes, at times it is both subtle and penetrating, playing out not only in some of the finer details of the film, but in the battle of genres that reaches its culmination in the final scene.