The Man I Marry: A Charming, Forgettable Afternoon

Is it worth your time?

If you like old-school studio comedies that don't try to reinvent the wheel, sure. You'll probably enjoy it if you have a soft spot for 1930s banter and people wearing suits while arguing in parlors. If you need grit, realism, or anything resembling a modern pace, you are going to be checking your watch every ten minutes.

The whole thing feels like it was filmed in a bubble. It's the kind of story where a guy tries to prove his independence by writing a play, but he's surrounded by people who seem to have nothing better to do than hover.

Notes from the couch:

• There is a moment where the lead character looks so stressed about his fake identity that I almost felt bad for him. Then I remembered he's a millionaire.
• The mother character? Wow. She is the type of person who would criticize your font choice on a funeral invite.
• The pacing is a bit like a Sunday drive on a winding road. It just sort of wanders along.

It reminded me a bit of the vibe in The Lucky Rube, just with more money and fewer horses. There's this specific kind of 1930s chatter that I find strangely soothing, even when the plot makes absolutely zero sense.

Is it perfect? Absolutely not. Some scenes just stop dead in their tracks to let a joke land, and sometimes the joke is just... not there. It’s a bit messy. But it has a heart, I guess? Or at least it’s trying to have one.

There is a scene near the middle involving a miscommunication about the manuscript that lasts forever. You can literally see the actors trying to keep the momentum going while the script holds them back. It’s almost impressive how they keep smiling through it. 😅

I wouldn't say this is a hidden gem. It's more like a hidden pebble in your shoe. You notice it, you acknowledge it, and then you move on with your day. But hey, sometimes you don't need a masterpiece. Sometimes you just need to watch a bunch of people in tuxedos try to figure out who wrote a play.