Watching Monkey Business: A Gloriously Silly Marx Bros. Mess

So, is Monkey Business worth a watch today? Absolutely, if you've got a soft spot for really old, chaotic comedy. People who love rapid-fire wordplay and pure, unhinged silliness will find a lot to giggle at. If you prefer your humor subtle or your pacing brisk by modern standards, you might find it a bit much, or even a little slow in spots. It's an acquired taste, for sure.

The whole premise is just the Marx Brothers as stowaways on a fancy ocean liner. They're immediately hiding in some closet, then popping out like human jack-in-the-boxes. You know, just *being* the Marx Brothers.

Right away, Groucho is dropping these incredible one-liners that fly by so fast you barely catch them. He’s got this patter, relentless, just hitting on everyone and everything. He tells a woman, “You're the most beautiful woman I've ever seen, which isn't saying much for my eyesight.” Classic.

Harpo, of course, is Harpo. He's got his horn, his fishing rod that appears from nowhere, and a seemingly endless supply of props up his sleeve. There’s a moment he just *materializes* with a fishing rod during a formal dinner, and nobody really questions it. It’s just how things are with him.

Chico, he’s doing his usual charmingly confused thing, with the broken English and the piano playing. His back-and-forth with Groucho is always a highlight, even if you can see some of the gags coming a mile away.

Zeppo is… there. He’s the straight man, trying to make sense of the chaos, which is a thankless job in a Marx Brothers movie. He mostly just looks handsome and occasionally sings a tune.

The film doesn't really have a plot, not in the traditional sense. It's more a series of escalating mishaps and a whole lot of chasing. They get mixed up with a gangster, Alky Briggs, and his rival, Joe Helton. Thelma Todd plays Lucille, the gangster’s wife, and she’s a real trooper, reacting perfectly to all the madness thrown her way. Her exasperated expressions are gold. 🥇

One scene that always sticks with me is the passport bit. They need to pretend to be Maurice Chevalier. So, they try to sing like him, which goes about as well as you’d expect. Then they try to *look* like him, with these terrible cut-out photos. It's just so wonderfully silly and low-tech. You can almost feel the crew trying not to crack up behind the camera.

And the stowaway scenes? They keep getting caught, then escaping. They hide in a horse cart, then in barrels. It’s less about suspense and more about the sheer audacity of their escapes. Like, how do they keep getting away with this stuff?

The pacing is… interesting. Sometimes it feels like a whirlwind, especially when Groucho is on a roll. Other times, a gag just hangs there, a little too long, waiting for the audience to catch up. But that’s part of its charm, I think. It’s not trying to be slick.

There’s this boxing match on deck, which feels completely out of left field but also perfectly Marx Brothers. Harpo uses a gong as a shield, and Chico gets involved, and it all just descends into typical glorious pandemonium. It's a lot of running around and hitting people with fish. Why not?

The songs are… there. They interrupt the flow sometimes, but then again, it’s an early talkie, so that was just how things were. Zeppo's solo feels a bit like a pause button on the fun. But then a Harpo chase usually kicks in right after.

The climax involves a huge chase through the ship, lots of slamming doors and mistaken identities. It’s a classic farce setup, executed with Marx Brothers energy. It's not subtle, not sophisticated, but it's *fun* in a very loud way.

It’s not their most polished film, not by a long shot. Some gags feel a bit recycled, and the plot, as I said, is more of a suggestion than a blueprint. But for pure, unadulterated Marx Brothers chaos, it delivers. It's a snapshot of a different era of comedy, and it's wildly entertaining if you let yourself just go with it. A true **time capsule of absurdity**. 🕰️

Didja notice?

• The monkey trying to steal Groucho's cigar! A real monkey! 🐒
• The captain of the ship just *really* hates stowaways. Like, a lot.
• The way Groucho tries to flirt with every single woman, no matter who they are.
• Harpo's reaction when he gets kissed by a woman – a genuine surprised double-take.
• The sheer number of times someone gets knocked over with a prop.
• How quickly the gangster's moll changes her allegiance based on who’s winning.
• The complete lack of consequence for almost anything they do.