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4.6/10
Senior Film Conservator
A definitive 4.6/10 rating for a film that redefined the boundaries of cult cinema. Men Are Like That remains a cornerstone of transgressive art.
Honestly, you should only watch this if you have a high tolerance for irritating characters. If you like seeing the underdog win, you might enjoy it, but if you hate people who brag about things they haven't done, you'll probably want to throw your remote at the screen. 📺
It’s a 1930 movie, so it feels a bit like a filmed play, but the lead performance is so loud it breaks through the screen. It's not for everyone, but it’s definitely memorable.
J. Aubrey Piper is a clerk. He works for the railroad, but he talks like he owns the whole track system. 🚂
Hal Skelly plays him with this honking laugh that just doesn't stop. It’s meant to be his 'thing,' but after ten minutes, you start to feel for the other characters who have to live with him.
He wears this big carnation in his buttonhole and tips his hat like he’s a millionaire. He’s the original 'fake it until you make it' guy, except he never actually makes it until the very end by pure luck.
I kept waiting for someone to just tell him to shut up. His ego is so big it practically has its own zip code.
Amy Fisher, played by Helene Chadwick, is the one who decides to marry him. Why? I don't know. 🤷♀️
Her mother, Ma Fisher, is the only person in the movie who seems to have a brain. She sees right through Aubrey’s nonsense from the first scene.
There is this moment where Ma is just staring at him while he brags, and you can see her soul leaving her body. It reminded me a bit of the domestic drama in What Every Woman Learns, where the women just have to deal with whatever the men decide to do.
Clara, the sister, has a husband named Frank who is actually successful. Frank is the one who keeps bailing Aubrey out of trouble, which is infuriating to watch.
The middle of the movie gets really slow until Aubrey borrows Frank's car. He goes to an auto show and acts like he’s the king of the road. 🏎️
He ends up hitting a traffic cop. A normal person would be terrified, but Aubrey is so arrogant that he argues with the cop while the guy has a broken arm.
Then he goes to court and talks back to the judge. The judge actually increases his fine because he won't stop being a jerk. It’s one of those scenes where you’re laughing but also cringing so hard your neck hurts.
It’s a classic case of Dodging Trouble but failing miserably at it because you can't keep your mouth shut.
The whole plot shifts to Amy’s brother, Joe, who is an inventor. Aubrey tries to handle the business deal for Joe’s invention. 💡
He is so rude to the lawyers that they kick him out. You think he has finally ruined everything for the family.
But then, through some weird twist of fate, his obnoxious bravado actually scares the lawyers into offering more money. It’s the kind of ending that makes you feel like the world isn't fair.
The final line from Ma Fisher is the best part. She just says, 'Lord help me from now on.' 🙏
I felt that. We all felt that.
The movie isn't a masterpiece. It's kind of messy and the pacing is all over the place. One scene will be very fast and the next will linger on a face for way too long.
It’s similar to Dangerous Curve Ahead in how it handles family stress, but with way more shouting. I wouldn't call it a 'must-see,' but if you want to see a 1930s version of a toxic hustler, Aubrey Piper is your guy. 🤡
He’s the kind of character you love to hate. Or just hate. It depends on your mood, I guess.
Overall, it’s a weirdly fascinating look at how being a loudmouth can sometimes—just sometimes—work out in your favor. Even if you don't deserve it.
IMDb —
1924
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