Her Master's Voice: A frantic mess of domestic lies

Is this thing worth the watch?

If you have a soft spot for 1930s screwball comedies that haven't quite figured out how to be funny yet, maybe. It’s definitely for people who like watching characters run in circles to avoid talking about their problems. If you hate watching people squirm because of social awkwardness, skip it entirely.

Edward Everett Horton is doing that thing he does—the one where he looks like he’s perpetually apologizing for taking up space. It works for a bit. Then, it just feels like he’s trapped in a house with people who don't actually like him. Watching him try to fix things he clearly has no business touching is the whole point, I guess.

The plot is thinner than the wallpaper in the set. It’s just one long, drawn-out lie that keeps growing because nobody can just tell the truth for five seconds. It reminds me of the pacing in Hard to Handle, where the chaos feels forced rather than organic. You can feel the script pushing them into corners just to see who screams first.

The aunt is a trip.

Laura Hope Crews is doing some heavy lifting here. She plays the wealthy aunt with this bizarre, airy confidence that makes you wonder if she’s even in the same movie as everyone else. Every time she enters a room, the air gets sucked out of it. It’s honestly kind of impressive.

There is a scene in the kitchen that goes on for way too long. The timing is just... off. You’re waiting for a punchline that never really lands, and the silence just hangs there. It’s almost uncomfortable to watch. It feels like the director just let the camera roll until someone finally remembered their line. 😬

• The set design is strangely sterile.
• Horton’s tie is slightly crooked in the third act, and it’s all I could look at.
• The mother-in-law character is basically just a walking scowl.

It’s not a masterpiece. It’s barely even a coherent comedy. But there’s something oddly endearing about how hard they are trying to make a domestic dispute feel like a high-stakes heist. It’s not quite as sharp as the wit you'd find in A Girl in Every Port, but it’s fine for a lazy afternoon. Don't expect to remember much once the credits roll.

The ending happens so fast it gave me whiplash. One minute they’re bickering, and the next, everything is perfectly fine. It’s like they just ran out of film stock and decided to call it a day. A real head-scratcher of a finish. 🤷‍♂️