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5.6/10
Senior Film Conservator
A definitive 5.6/10 rating for a film that redefined the boundaries of cult cinema. Falling for You remains a cornerstone of transgressive art.
Honestly, if you like old-school British screwball comedies, you’ll probably have a blast. It’s got that specific, rattling energy where everyone is constantly shouting over each other in fancy hats. If you hate movies where the plot is mostly an excuse for people to run into doors or fall down, skip this one. It’s not exactly The Circular Staircase in terms of mystery, let's put it that way.
The whole thing feels like a stage play that someone decided to film while everyone was suffering from a caffeine overdose. Jack Hulbert and Cicely Courtneidge have this weird, jittery chemistry. They aren't exactly sparks-flying romantic, more like two people trying to win a fight they didn't realize they were having.
It reminds me a bit of the frantic pacing in The Man with the Limp, though this one has way more yodeling. The middle section drags quite a bit, mostly because the movie stops to let the actors do their bits. You know the type—the "look at me be funny" bits that don't really move the story forward.
I found myself staring at the background extras more than the leads. There’s one guy in a hotel lobby who spends five minutes trying to light a pipe that clearly isn't lit. It’s the little stuff like that which makes these old films feel alive. It’s not high art, but it’s certainly not boring.
Don't go in expecting a tight script. It’s loose. It’s baggy. Sometimes the jokes land with a thud, and sometimes you’re just happy to watch people run around Switzerland in the 1930s. 🏔️
It’s definitely better than the slog that was The Woman of Lies, which felt like it was written in slow motion. This one at least moves, even if it has no idea where it's going. Just don't ask me to explain the ending. I'm not entirely sure they knew how to finish it either.
