Vagabond Lady is a bit of a dusty relic

Should you bother?

Honestly, only watch Vagabond Lady if you have a massive soft spot for 1930s screwball fluff. If you hate movies where people yell over each other for no reason or find 'stuffed-shirt' archetypes grating, skip it. It’s light, it’s breezy, and it’s entirely forgettable by the time the credits roll.

Josephine Spiggins is our lead, and she’s supposed to be this relatable girl caught in a bind. She’s dating John, who is essentially a sentient suit. Then Tony shows up in his boat, the Vagabond Lady, and suddenly the script demands she act like she’s caught in a whirlwind of passion. It’s all very predictable.

The pacing is a bit weird. One minute we’re in a department store, the next we’re dealing with family drama that feels like it belongs in a different genre entirely. It’s not quite as sharp as The Four-Flusher, which had a bit more snap to its dialogue.

The "Vagabond" vibe

Robert Young is charming enough as the brother, I guess. He does that thing where he smiles a lot to show he’s 'free-spirited.' It works well enough if you don't think about it too hard.

• The boat scenes look like they were filmed in a bathtub.
• The fashion is actually pretty great, if you're into that.
• Some of the supporting cast are clearly just waiting for their turn to leave the set.

There is a moment near the middle where the film almost stops entirely. It just loses steam. It felt like the writers went on lunch and forgot to finish the scene.

It’s not exactly Paree, Paree in terms of scale or energy. It’s smaller, tighter, and maybe a little too neat. You know exactly who is going to end up with whom within five minutes. Sometimes, that’s fine. Other times, you just want the movie to take a risk.

I caught myself looking at the background extras more than the main characters. There’s one guy in a suit who just stands there for three minutes, looking like he’s trying to remember if he left his stove on at home. It’s those little, accidental moments that made this bearable.

Is it a masterpiece? No. Is it a disaster? Also no. It’s just... there. Like an old piece of furniture that doesn't quite fit your living room but you can't be bothered to throw out yet. 🤷‍♂️