After the Thin Man: Still the King of Movie Marriages

Is it worth a watch?

If you want to watch two people who clearly enjoy being in the same room as each other, yes. Watch this today if you’re in a mood for sharp, fast-talking dialogue that doesn't feel like it’s trying to win an award. If you’re looking for a serious, dark noir that keeps you guessing until the final frame, you might find this a bit too breezy and light.

William Powell and Myrna Loy just have this way of looking at each other. It’s not forced. It’s not that dramatic, lingering stare you see in movies like Flesh and the Devil. It’s just... comfortable. Like they’ve been married for ten years and actually like the jokes they’re telling.

The murder plot? Honestly, it’s fine. It’s a bit messy, maybe a little too many people running around with motives, but the mystery isn't the point. You aren't here for the forensic science. You’re here because Nick Charles handles a martini shaker with more grace than most people handle their entire lives.

There is this one moment with Asta the dog that had me laughing for a solid minute. He’s just wandering around, totally unbothered by the fact that there’s a dead body nearby. It’s a nice touch of reality in a movie that’s mostly high-society chatter.

Also, James Stewart pops up in this. It’s weird seeing him so young and... twitchy. He doesn’t quite have that heavy, weighted presence he developed later on. He feels like a guy who just wandered onto the set from another production, maybe Alice's Little Parade, and decided to stay for the drinks.

The dialogue is so fast you’ll miss half of it if you’re checking your phone. I had to rewind three times during the dinner scene because they kept layering jokes on top of each other. It’s not as dense as some of those weird, heavy-handed dramas like A Woman's Vengeance, but it keeps you moving.

Sometimes the movie feels like it’s just padding the runtime with people walking through doors. There’s a lot of walking. A lot of coats being put on and taken off. But the pacing doesn't really drag because the chemistry keeps the engine running.

• Nick’s ability to remain completely sober while everyone else is falling apart is an art form.
• The lighting in the final act gets weirdly moody for no reason.
• I still don't fully understand the cousin's motive, but does it matter?
• The way they talk over each other feels surprisingly modern.

It’s not a perfect movie. The mystery is a bit of a scramble and the side characters are mostly just there to be suspicious. But it’s got heart. And honestly, it’s just fun to watch two people be smart and kind to each other for ninety minutes. We could use a bit more of that, right? 🍸