Some of the reviewers I regularly watch for have commented on this film, and most seemed to like it. But it didn't quite tickle my funny bone the way it seems to have others. I wouldn't put this in the class of great early screwball comedies. Films such as "My Man Godfrey," "Bringing Up Baby," "The Awful Truth," "The Philadelphia Story," "The Lady Eve," "My Favorite Wife," "You Can't Take it With You" and others used one-liners masterfully. And, they weren't dated so that a viewer, to get the humor, would need to know stars or particular characters or events that are fairly obscure today.
"It's in the Bag" resembles the early live TV comedy programs when the stars and guests bounced one-liners off one another in running dialog for long segments of the shows. Besides Fred Allen and Jack Benny, long- running one-liner comic shows included Milton Berle, Bob Hope, and Red Skelton. The humor was most often specific for the time, events and people. In other words, "current." Much of "It's in the Bag" was very current for its time, and thus probably would be missed by audiences of today. And, for others of us older viewers, I suspect the humor has just worn out.
I think this may be the longest film ever made of almost constant one- liners. But, unless you're an "old-timer" yourself, or really enjoy old- time films, this may not be that funny to you. On the other hand, I wonder if my enjoyment of the film might have been affected by my cold and feeling a bit under the weather when I watched it today!? The five stars I give the film are mostly for the huge cast of notable comics of the day.
"It's in the Bag" resembles the early live TV comedy programs when the stars and guests bounced one-liners off one another in running dialog for long segments of the shows. Besides Fred Allen and Jack Benny, long- running one-liner comic shows included Milton Berle, Bob Hope, and Red Skelton. The humor was most often specific for the time, events and people. In other words, "current." Much of "It's in the Bag" was very current for its time, and thus probably would be missed by audiences of today. And, for others of us older viewers, I suspect the humor has just worn out.
I think this may be the longest film ever made of almost constant one- liners. But, unless you're an "old-timer" yourself, or really enjoy old- time films, this may not be that funny to you. On the other hand, I wonder if my enjoyment of the film might have been affected by my cold and feeling a bit under the weather when I watched it today!? The five stars I give the film are mostly for the huge cast of notable comics of the day.