Amphitryon: Gods, Husbands, and a Whole Lot of Mess

Is it worth your time?

If you like old-school farce and don't mind black-and-white films that feel like they were pulled straight off a dusty shelf, you might actually dig this. It’s got that specific, theatrical energy that doesn’t really exist anymore. If you prefer your movies fast-paced or grounded in any semblance of reality, you’ll probably find this infuriating. 🙄

Jupiter is basically the ultimate deadbeat boyfriend, except he’s a god. The way he just waltzes into Alkmene's life wearing her husband's skin is creepy, but the movie plays it for laughs. It’s a strange balance. One minute I’m thinking, 'this is a violation,' and the next I’m laughing at the pure absurdity of it all.

The pacing has that older, stage-play rhythm where scenes just kind of happen until they don't. Sometimes it lingers way too long on a single dialogue exchange, like the director forgot to yell cut. But then, there's a moment with Juno that feels so sharp and biting it almost makes the rest of the confusion worth it.

It reminded me a bit of the frantic energy in Dog Shy, where everyone is just running in circles. But here, the stakes feel a bit more... mythological? If that makes any sense.

Some random notes:

• The costume department clearly had a blast with the toga situation.
• Hilde Hildebrand is doing a lot of heavy lifting here with just her eyebrows.
• That one shot where the light hits the back of the set? You can totally tell it's a painting. It’s charming, honestly.
• I spent five minutes trying to figure out if the actor in the background was actually reacting to the lines or just waiting for his lunch break.

The whole 'god pretending to be a human' trope is tired, but seeing it played out in this specific 1930s style adds a layer of weirdness that keeps you watching. It’s not a masterpiece, and it doesn't try to be. It’s just a bunch of people shouting about marriage and divinity while the world around them looks like a cardboard cutout.

Honestly, the ending is a total shrug. It just kind of stops. Like they ran out of film or the gods just got bored of the whole experiment. I’m okay with that. Not every movie needs to tie a neat little bow on everything.

It’s not as manic as The Cohens and the Kellys in Africa, but it shares that same DNA of 'let's just see how many people we can fit in a room before it gets awkward.' Spoiler: it gets awkward pretty fast. Definitely give it a look if you're in the mood for something that doesn't care if you like it or not. 🏛️