That's a Good Girl: A Bouncy, Slightly Baffling Trip Through 1933

Is this thing worth your afternoon?

Honestly, if you like watching people in tuxedos sing about their feelings and run through hotel hallways, you’ll probably have a decent time. If you’re looking for grounded drama or characters that act like actual human beings, you’re going to be annoyed by the ten-minute mark. It’s light, it’s fluffy, and it’s about as substantial as a cotton candy cloud.

Jack Buchanan is doing a lot of heavy lifting here. He’s got that specific, frantic energy that makes you feel like he’s trying to hold the whole movie together with sheer willpower and a fancy hat. He’s everywhere at once.

The plot is… well, it’s a mess, but a fun one. Dorothy Hyson is charming, even when she’s caught in the middle of these bizarre schemes that make absolutely no sense in the real world. Why are they in that room? Why is there a musical number happening in the middle of a serious conversation? Don't ask. Just go with it.

Odd little things I noticed:

• There’s a moment where a side character walks in, says one sentence, and leaves, and I swear he was just there to fill the frame.
• The lighting in the second act makes everyone look like they’re standing in a dream, which is probably an accident but works strangely well.
• One of the dance numbers feels like it lasts for three days. My coffee got cold before it ended. ☕

It’s not as polished as West Point, which had a different kind of snap to it. This one feels more like a stage play that someone decided to film on a Tuesday. The transitions are non-existent. You’re in a library, then suddenly you’re on a stage, then back in a library. It’s dizzying.

Sometimes, the movie gets quiet, and for a second, you think, "Oh, maybe they're actually going to talk about something real." Then someone starts singing again, and the mood breaks. It’s weirdly endearing, though. It’s like watching a friend who is constantly trying to change the subject because they're uncomfortable.

I wouldn't call this a masterpiece. I wouldn't even call it a particularly good movie if we’re being technical. But it’s got this silly, frantic heartbeat that kept me watching. It reminded me a bit of the chaos in Here Comes Flossie!, just with more formal wear and slightly better manners.

The ending comes out of nowhere. It’s like the writers realized they had to finish by dinner time and just slammed the door shut on the plot. I laughed, but mostly because of how abrupt it was. 🤷‍♂️