Delicious (1931) is a weirdly sweet mess with too much El Brendel

Is it worth your time?

You should probably watch this if you have a soft spot for the early 1930s or those old-school romantic duos. It's a Janet Gaynor and Charles Farrell movie, so you basically already know if you're going to like it or not.

If you hate old-timey comedy that feels like it’s trying way too hard, you might want to stay far away. 😬

The movie starts on a ship, which is where most of these stories seem to live. Everyone is headed to America with big dreams and not much else.

Heather, played by Janet Gaynor, is an immigrant with a very specific kind of energy. She’s sweet, maybe almost too sweet for a modern audience to handle without getting a toothache.

She meets this rich guy, Jimmy, played by Farrell. They have that "silent movie" chemistry where they just look at each other and you know they're in love.

It’s weird how much time we spend on the boat. It feels like the movie is stalling because it doesn’t want to get to the actual plot in New York yet.

But the boat scenes have some charm, mostly because of the weird mix of people in the steerage section. It feels a bit like Mary Ellen Comes to Town but with more salt water.

Then there’s El Brendel. He plays a character named Chris, and he’s the "comic relief" for the group.

I put that in quotes because his Swedish accent bit is... well, it’s a lot. He says "yumpin' yiminy" or things like it and the movie expects you to howl with laughter.

Some people might find him funny, I guess. Personally, I found myself looking at the background actors instead while he was doing his bits.

The extras in this movie look like they were actually recruited off a street corner in 1931. They have these real faces that you don't see in movies anymore.

One reaction shot of a guy in the background lingers so long it becomes funny. He just looks like he wants to go home and eat some soup.

There is a bit about a dog too. Dogs in these old movies always seem more professional and focused than the humans.

The immigration stuff is actually the most interesting part of the whole thing. Heather doesn't have the right papers and the threat of being sent back feels heavy.

It turns into this weird game of hide and seek once they get to New York. The sets for the city look like giant postcards, very clean and very fake.

I noticed one scene where the shadows on the wall don't match the light source at all. It’s the kind of mistake that makes me love these old films more.

The music is by George Gershwin, which is a big deal. You can really tell because it has that bouncy, nervous energy that his music always has.

Farrell is fine as the lead, but he mostly just stands there being handsome and tall. He’s very good at looking concerned while wearing a very expensive suit.

There’s a scene in a penthouse that is just ridiculous. The contrast between the dirty boat and this fancy house is so sharp it's almost funny.

It’s not a subtle movie. It really wants you to feel bad for the poor immigrants and annoyed by the rich snobs.

I kept thinking about A Bird in the Hand while watching the romance scenes. There's just a similar vibe of "will they or won't they" even though we all know they will.

The movie gets noticeably better once it stops taking the drama so seriously. When it's just Janet Gaynor being charming, it works perfectly.

She has these huge eyes that do all the heavy lifting. You don't even really need the dialogue when she's on screen.

It reminds me a little of Salomy Jane in terms of the "girl in trouble" vibe, but way less dusty. And fewer horses.

Is it a masterpiece? No, definitely not. It’s a bit messy and the pacing is all over the place.

The ending happens so fast it’ll make your head spin. It’s like the director realized they were almost out of film and just yelled "Okay, they're happy now!"

One scene goes on about 20 seconds too long, and the silence starts to feel awkward rather than emotional. I think they were waiting for a music cue that never came.

If you like seeing how people thought America looked to outsiders back then, it’s a fun watch. Just prepare yourself for El Brendel's jokes. You’ve been warned. 🙄

Small things I noticed:

• The way Janet Gaynor holds her suitcase like it's the most precious thing in the world.
• A very weird hat worn by one of the ladies at the party. It looked like a dead bird.
• The sound quality dips whenever someone moves too far from the center of the room.
• Charles Farrell's hair is immaculate even after being on a boat for weeks.
• The New York skyline looks like a very pretty drawing.

It's an okay movie for a rainy Sunday. Just don't expect it to change your life or anything. It's just... delicious-ish. 🍦