Handle with Care: A bit dusty, but strangely sweet

Is it worth your time?

If you've got a soft spot for 1930s fluff, you'll probably enjoy Handle with Care. It's not reinventing the wheel, but it has a certain charm that's hard to hate. If you’re looking for high-stakes drama or something that feels modern, you’re going to be bored to tears within twenty minutes. It’s a movie for a rainy Sunday when you don’t want to think too hard about anything.

James Dunn plays the kind of guy you just want to pat on the shoulder. He’s trying his best, but life—and these two kids—keep tripping him up. The kids, honestly, are the real stars here. They’re chaotic in that way only children in old movies can be.

There’s this one scene where they just stare at the adults kissing. It goes on for a few beats too long, and you can practically hear the director yelling, "Look confused!" It’s funny in a way that feels unintentional. Awkwardly so.

It reminds me a bit of the vibe in Betty Sets the Pace, where everything feels like it’s teetering on the edge of a mild catastrophe. Nothing is ever really that bad, but the characters act like the sky is falling if a dinner party goes sideways.

The pacing is a bit weird. Sometimes it sprints through a conversation, and other times it just hangs out in a room while someone fiddles with a hat. I found myself wondering if they were just trying to use up the film stock. Still, there's something nice about it.

Boots Mallory is solid as Helen. She has to play the "trying to hold it all together" card for the whole runtime, which can’t be easy. She manages to make the kids look like actual humans instead of just plot devices.

I wouldn't compare this to Grand Hotel—that would be a reach. It doesn't have the scale or the polish. It’s more like a neighborhood story. A small, quiet, slightly dusty corner of a bigger world. 🎞️

• The kids are absolute menaces, in the best way.
• The dialogue is very "gee whiz" for modern ears.
• James Dunn has a very expressive face, especially when he's being embarrassed.
• The sets feel a bit cramped, like everyone is trapped in a dollhouse.

It’s not a masterpiece. It’s not even a hidden gem, really. It’s just a movie that exists, and sometimes that’s enough. Just don't go in expecting to be moved to tears or anything. It's light, it's dated, and it’s perfectly fine for what it is.