Adorable: A Sweet, Sometimes Silly Royal Romp

Is it worth your time?

If you have a soft spot for 1930s musicals or just want to see Janet Gaynor being generally delightful, sure, put it on. It's not a heavy watch. If you hate old-timey singing or plots that move at the speed of a polite stroll, you're going to be checking your phone every ten minutes.

There's this specific energy in Adorable that feels like a polished stage play that accidentally wandered onto a film set. It’s light. Maybe a bit too light. But Gaynor holds the center together even when the script tries to get a little too cute for its own good.

The whole princess-in-disguise trope is ancient, but here it feels weirdly honest because of how she plays it. She isn't just acting royal; she's acting like someone bored to tears by her own life. I liked that.

Odd moments and things I noticed:

• The sets have that slightly fake, painted-backdrop look that I kind of love. It reminds me a bit of the atmosphere in Merry-Go-Round where everything feels like a dream version of reality.
• The musical numbers? They just sort of happen. No buildup. Just suddenly, people are singing, and you’re just going to have to deal with it.
• C. Aubrey Smith is in this, looking exactly like C. Aubrey Smith always looks—like he’s about to scold someone for not drinking their tea properly.

There’s a scene about halfway through where the pacing just hits a wall. It’s supposed to be romantic tension, but it felt like they were just waiting for the next lighting cue. Still, it’s genuinely charming in a way that feels hard to find now.

I found myself thinking about The Unholy Three while watching this, mostly because of how different the acting styles were back then. Here, everyone is so wide-eyed and earnest. It makes me miss that specific type of performance.

Is it a masterpiece? No. Does it need to be? Definitely not. It’s a movie that knows it’s a puff piece, and it doesn't try to be anything else. Sometimes that’s enough. 🎵

I caught a glimpse of Sterling Holloway in there, too. You always recognize that voice, even if he’s doing something completely different from his usual stuff. It’s these little pockets of character work that keep a movie like this watchable.

Don't look for deep meaning. Just enjoy the costumes and the way they move around the frame. It’s a nice, fuzzy blanket of a movie.