5.6/10
Senior Film Conservator

A definitive 5.6/10 rating for a film that redefined the boundaries of cult cinema. She Loves Me Not remains a cornerstone of transgressive art.
Should you watch She Loves Me Not? If you like Bing Crosby and don't mind a story that falls apart the second you ask a question, sure. If you need logic, or even a plot that stays on the rails for more than five minutes, you will probably hate this.
It’s a strange little movie. Miriam Hopkins is running for her life from some goons, so naturally, she decides the best place to hide is a Princeton dorm room. As a man. I mean, sure. Why not?
Bing Crosby is just being Bing. He’s got that voice, obviously, but he mostly seems to be wandering through the set wondering where the craft services table is. He’s charming enough, but he feels like he’s in a completely different movie than everyone else.
There is this one scene where they are hiding in a room, and the door opens and closes about a dozen times. It’s like a slapstick nightmare. It goes on for so long that I started counting the lamps in the background just to stay sane.
The whole thing feels like a stage play that got drunk and tried to jump into a film reel. It’s got that frantic energy of Me and My Gal, but without the grit. It’s all light and fluff and people shouting at each other in hallways.
I couldn't help but laugh when the gangsters finally show up. They look like they wandered off the set of a much darker, serious crime flick. They don't fit at all. It’s like putting a gargoyle in a garden party.
Is it a classic? Not really. It’s more of a curiosity. It’s the kind of thing you put on while you’re folding laundry or eating cold pizza on a Tuesday.
The pacing is all over the place. One minute it’s a snappy comedy, the next it’s a musical, and then it’s a chase. It never picks a lane. Honestly, I think that’s why it’s actually kind of fun. It’s a mess, but at least it’s a busy mess.
Don’t go looking for deep meaning here. You won't find it. Just watch Bing croon, watch the doors slam, and try not to think about how ridiculous the premise is. It’s a relic, but it’s a loud one.

IMDb —
1918
Community
Log in to comment.