Florida Special: A train ride that mostly just goes in circles

If you're looking for a tight, high-stakes mystery, keep walking. Florida Special is one of those movies you watch on a rainy Tuesday when you don't really want to think, but you also don't want to turn the TV off. It’s for the folks who like old-school train movies where everyone is shouting over each other in fancy hats. If you hate movies where the plot exists just to get people from one room to another, you'll probably want to skip this one.

The whole thing takes place on a train, which is a classic trope for a reason. You’ve got Bangs Carter, who is supposed to be this sharp reporter, though he spends most of the time just getting confused by his own friends. Jack Oakie plays Wally with so much energy it’s almost exhausting to watch. He’s the kind of guy who probably yells at his soup for being too hot. 🚂

There is this moment where the jewel thieves are trying to be all mysterious and low-key, but the movie keeps cutting back to them acting like they’re in a slapstick comedy. It’s jarring. You can tell the writers weren’t really sure if they wanted a crime thriller or a screwball romance. They tried to do both, and the result is a bit of a scramble.

I found myself staring at the background extras more than the main cast. There’s a scene in the dining car where a waiter looks like he’s having a genuinely bad day, and it’s honestly more interesting than the dialogue about the stolen diamonds. It’s those little, unpolished bits that make it feel like a real movie and not some studio-mandated product.

The romance between Bangs and the mysterious passenger? It feels pretty forced. They spend about five minutes talking before they’re acting like they’ve known each other for years. It reminds me of the pacing issues in Servants' Entrance, where you just have to roll with the convenience of it all. It’s not smart, but it’s fast.

Is it a masterpiece? Hardly. But there’s a certain breezy quality to it that I kinda liked. It doesn't have the grit of When a Man Sees Red, and it doesn't try to be anything profound. It’s just people on a train, some jewelry, and a lot of frantic walking through corridors.

Things that stuck with me:

• The way the train whistle sounds like it’s being dubbed in from a totally different film.
• Wally’s tie, which seems to change width every other scene.
• That one extra who keeps trying to read a newspaper while chaos breaks out behind him.
• The lighting is surprisingly moody for a movie that doesn't really have much to say.

By the time they hit Florida, I was mostly just ready for the train to stop. It’s not great cinema, but it’s not a waste of time if you’re into the vintage aesthetic. Just don't go in expecting a clever puzzle. It's just a train ride. Sometimes that’s enough. 🌴