Mr. Dodd Takes the Air: A strange little musical detour

Is it worth your time?

If you have a soft spot for 1930s fluff and don't mind a plot that moves at the speed of a rusty tractor, sure. It’s perfectly fine for a rainy Sunday where you just want to turn your brain off. If you’re looking for the gravity of something like The Good Earth, though, you’re going to be disappointed real fast.

Kenny Baker is the main reason this thing works at all. He’s got that gee-whiz energy that makes you want to root for him, even when the script forces him into some truly baffling situations. He’s just a guy who fixes wires and somehow ends up being the toast of the town. The leap is massive.

There’s a scene early on in a shop where the pacing just... stops. Everyone is talking at each other, but nobody is really saying anything. It felt like the writers were just trying to fill space until the next musical number popped up. I kept checking my watch, not because it was bad, but because it felt like the movie was waiting for me to get bored.

The gold digger character is exactly what you expect, which is fine, but she doesn't have much to chew on. She just sort of glides through the background being vaguely troublesome. It’s like she wandered in from a different, slightly sassier movie and got stuck here by mistake.

Odd little moments

• That one guy in the background of the opera scene looks like he’s actually falling asleep.
• The singing is great, but the way the crowd reacts feels like they were told to clap at gunpoint.
• I’m still not entirely sure how an electrician just decides to become a professional crooner in the middle of a workday.

It’s not as charming as Alibi Ike, which knew exactly what kind of goofy fun it was selling. Mr. Dodd Takes the Air is a bit more confused about its own identity. Sometimes it’s a comedy, sometimes it’s a drama, and sometimes it’s just a showcase for songs that don't really move the needle.

Still, watching Jane Wyman pop up is always a treat. She brings a bit of actual life to the screen whenever she’s in the frame. It helps ground the whole thing when the plot starts getting a little too airy-fairy. It’s a breezy watch, for sure. Maybe too breezy, like it might just blow away if you think about it too hard.

I wouldn't call it a classic. But I’ve definitely seen worse ways to spend an hour and change. Just don't go in expecting a life-changing experience, and you'll probably leave with a hum in your head and a shrug on your shoulders. 🎶