Mae West is the only reason to watch Goin' to Town

Should you watch Goin' to Town? If you are a fan of classic Hollywood snark, absolutely. If you need a movie with a coherent, logical story that builds tension, you’re going to hate it. It’s basically ninety minutes of Mae West doing whatever she wants while the rest of the cast tries to remember their lines.

Mae West plays Cleo Borden, and honestly, the plot doesn't matter much. She inherited a fortune, moved to the suburbs, and decided to pursue a British socialite. The social satire is as subtle as a sledgehammer, but it’s still charming.

There is a scene where she is wearing an outfit so big it looks like it’s swallowing the furniture. She just stands there, barely moving, and completely dominates the room. It’s hilarious.

The English aristocrat she’s chasing is so stiff he might as well be a cardboard cutout. He makes the stuffy characters in The Cabin in the Cotton look like wild party animals. Watching him try to keep up with her wit is like watching a turtle try to catch a train. 🐢

I found myself zoning out whenever she wasn't on screen. The other actors seem a bit terrified of her, or maybe they’re just waiting for her to finish so they can get to their next line. It gives the whole film this weird, off-balance energy.

Is it a masterpiece? No. Does it feel like it was slapped together on a Tuesday afternoon? Maybe. But West’s delivery is so sharp that I stopped caring about the weak script halfway through. She’s the only one who seems to know what kind of movie she’s in.

It’s not as interesting as the slow-burn dread of —well, obviously, it’s a comedy—but it has that same feeling of a filmmaker just doing their own thing regardless of the rules. 🎩

Some of the dialogue is just pure gold, even if the surrounding scenes are filler. She drops lines with such ease that you almost miss the punchline because you’re still laughing at her walk. She really knew how to own a camera.

The pacing is a total mess, but it didn't bother me. It just sort of drifts along until it stops. If you like Mae West, you'll be happy. If you want a real story, maybe skip it.