Step Lively, Jeeves! Is a messy, charming relic

Is it worth your time?

Honestly, only if you’re a sucker for old-school character actors or just need something to play in the background on a rainy Sunday. If you’re looking for a sharp, witty Wodehouse adaptation, you’re going to be disappointed. But if you like watching 1930s screen icons act confused in front of mobsters? Sure, why not.

Arthur Treacher is the whole reason this thing stays afloat. He plays Jeeves with this weird, stiff dignity that feels like he’s in a completely different movie than everyone else. He’s so polite, even when people are trying to fleece him for millions. It’s kind of funny to watch him navigate these American gangsters who are clearly out of their depth.

The pacing is a bit of a mess, honestly. It feels like the editors were just throwing scenes against the wall to see what stuck. Sometimes we’re in a swanky mansion, and then suddenly we’re in a crowded office with people shouting over each other. It’s not exactly smooth, but it has that frantic energy you sometimes find in Daring Youth.

Odd little things I noticed:

• There’s a bit where a character walks past the camera and completely forgets his line, but they kept it in anyway.
• The mobsters’ outfits are absolutely ridiculous, like they’re wearing caricatures of suits.
• I’m pretty sure I saw the same background extra in three different scenes, looking equally confused in each one.

There’s this one sequence in a dining room that goes on way too long. The characters are just sort of milling about, and you can tell the director didn’t quite know how to end the scene, so they just let it trail off into nothing. It’s awkward, but in a way that feels strangely honest.

It’s nowhere near the complexity of Masquerade Party, but it isn’t trying to be. It’s just a silly little vehicle for a character actor who knew exactly how to deliver a dry line. It’s not great, but it didn’t make me want to turn it off, which is a victory in my book. 🎩

Just don't go in expecting high art. It's just a bit of noise, some jokes that land occasionally, and a whole lot of 1930s charm. Sometimes that’s enough.