It's a Boy: A Fussy Little Farce That Mostly Works

Is it worth your time?

If you like old British stage farces, you’ll probably get a kick out of this. If you get annoyed by people shouting over each other or plots that rely entirely on 'misunderstandings,' maybe skip it.

It’s a 1933 relic, produced by Michael Balcon, and it moves with the frantic energy of a cat trapped in a closet. Honestly, the whole thing is just a mess of doors opening and closing, but in the best way possible.

The Setup

Poor Dudley Leake. He’s trying to get married, and suddenly this random guy shows up claiming to be his long-lost son. It’s the kind of premise you’d find in a dusty play script, and it feels like one too.

Edward Everett Horton is in this, which is usually a sign that things are going to be at least mildly funny. He has this way of looking panicked that makes the whole ridiculous situation feel slightly more grounded.

Odd Little Bits

• The dialogue is fast. Like, blink and you miss a joke kind of fast.
• The sets feel very 'theatre-first,' which makes the whole thing feel claustrophobic, but maybe that’s the point?
• I spent half the time wondering if the blackmailer’s suit was supposed to look that ill-fitting. It’s a very distracting shade of grey.

There’s a part in the second act where the best man starts digging into the guy's story, and the movie just loses all momentum for about five minutes. It’s like the writers realized they needed to fill time before the finale, so they just let the actors pace around the room for a bit.

It reminded me a bit of the frantic energy in Chasing Trouble, though this one feels a bit more buttoned-up and British. It doesn't have the same grit, obviously, but they share that same 'get out of this mess immediately' vibe.

The pacing is genuinely weird. One scene feels like it lasts for an eternity, and the next finishes before you even realize who’s in the room. It’s almost like they edited the film with a pair of rusty kitchen scissors. ✂️

Final Thoughts (Maybe?)

It’s not a masterpiece, and it’s certainly not going to change your life. But for an hour or so, it’s a perfectly fine distraction. If you’re a fan of this specific era of British comedy, it’s a solid enough way to spend a rainy afternoon. Just don't think too hard about the plot holes, because they are everywhere. Seriously, why didn't anyone just call the police?

Anyway. It's silly. It's loud. It’s 1933. That’s probably enough. 🎩