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6.2/10
Senior Film Conservator
A definitive 6.2/10 rating for a film that redefined the boundaries of cult cinema. Merry Wives of Reno remains a cornerstone of transgressive art.
If you have a soft spot for 1930s screwball comedies where everyone talks at the speed of light, you might enjoy Merry Wives of Reno. If you need a coherent plot or characters who don't act like absolute lunatics for no reason, stay far, far away. It is essentially a loud, frantic romp that feels like it was written in a single afternoon fueled by way too much coffee.
The whole premise is simple: Reno, quick divorces, and a lot of misunderstandings. It’s the kind of setup you’d see in a classic like I've Got to Sing a Torch Song, though with significantly less singing and a lot more door-slamming. Honestly, the plot doesn't matter much. It’s just an excuse to get people in the same room and make them yell at each other.
There’s a weird, hollow feeling to the middle act. It’s like the writers realized they didn't have enough material to fill the runtime, so they just added another scene of someone losing their luggage or getting kicked out of a lobby. It’s not great filmmaking, but there’s a certain charm to how messy it is.
I found myself staring at the background extras during the casino scenes. One guy in the back left corner is just pretending to read a newspaper for about four straight minutes. He doesn't flip a page. Not once. It’s the most interesting thing happening on screen for a solid stretch.
It doesn't reach the heights of something like Everything for Sale, but it isn't trying to, either. It’s just a product of its time—disposable, fast, and a little bit silly. Don't go looking for deep meaning. Just watch the hats and the rapid-fire dialogue and let it wash over you. Sometimes a movie just needs to be a loud, silly distraction. This one succeeds at that, even if it trips over its own feet every five minutes. 🙄
IMDb —
1920
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