She Gets Her Man: A weird little slice of 1930s chaos

Is this worth your time?

Honestly, only if you have a soft spot for the kind of B-movie scramble that feels like it was written on a napkin during lunch. If you need tight pacing or a story that makes sense, skip it. If you like seeing a cast try to keep a straight face while things get progressively sillier, you’ll probably have a decent time.

Helen Twelvetrees is doing a lot of heavy lifting here. She plays Esmeralda, the diner cook who suddenly becomes the talk of the town. She has this way of looking at the camera that tells you she knows the script is a bit of a disaster, which actually makes her more likable.

The whole 'Tiger Woman' thing is a bit of a reach. The crooks are so clumsy they make The Star Packer villains look like masterminds. There is a scene where a robbery goes wrong that lasts way longer than it needs to, and I swear you can see one of the extras trying not to giggle in the background.

Zasu Pitts is in this, and she’s just being Zasu. She has this fluttering energy that feels totally out of place in a bank heist movie, but that’s the charm. It’s like two different films are fighting for screen time.

Odd moments that stuck with me:

• The dialogue sounds like it was translated twice before hitting the page.
• Some of the street scenes are so quiet you can hear the footsteps of people who aren't even on screen.
• The lighting in the diner changes every three shots for no reason.
• John Carradine shows up and brings just enough gravity to make you wonder why he’s even in this.

It reminds me a bit of the vibe in Local Boy Makes Good, just without the polish. The movie doesn't have a "message" or a "theme." It just wants to get from the diner to the bank and back again.

The pacing is a total train wreck, but sometimes a train wreck is more interesting to look at than a perfectly timed schedule. 🚂

Don't look for logic. You won't find it. Just enjoy the fact that everyone is trying their best with a script that clearly didn't get a final draft. It’s not a masterpiece, but it’s certainly something.