World's Fair and Warmer: A dusty, sweet relic of old Chicago

Is it worth the watch?

If you like your movies smelling like old celluloid and quiet afternoons, then sure. It's essentially a breezy, harmless postcard from a time when the biggest problem a guy had was talking to a girl in a sequined dress. If you need grit, pacing, or anything remotely resembling a plot with teeth, you’ll probably want to skip this one entirely.

There's this scene early on where our hero just stares at the lights of the fairgrounds like he's seen the face of God himself. It’s so earnest it almost hurts.

The whole thing feels like it was put together by people who really wanted to show off the spectacle of the event rather than tell a tight story. You can feel the influence of the Thalians all over it. It’s very polished in that specific 1930s way, but the edges are a bit frayed.

Odd bits and pieces

• The showgirl's costumes look like they were held together by sheer willpower and a few pins.
• The country boy character is played with such wide-eyed confusion that I kept waiting for him to trip over his own feet.
• The background extras in the crowd scenes seem to be having a much better time than the actual leads.

It’s funny, watching this reminded me a bit of the chaotic energy in Are Golfers Cuckoo?. Not that they are the same movie, obviously, but they both share that frantic, slightly unhinged energy where characters just kind of bounce off each other until the credits roll.

The dialogue is fast. Sometimes it’s too fast. There’s a moment where they’re talking about the exhibits, and I’m pretty sure they just cut half the scene out to get to the dance number quicker. It’s disjointed, but honestly? It’s kind of charming.

It doesn't have the tension of The Mystery of 13, but it isn't trying to, either. It just wants to exist for an hour or so.

The chemistry between the leads is... well, it's there. Sort of. It’s more of a polite nod to romance than a firework display. Classic Hollywood fluff, really. You won't remember the lines, but you might remember the way the lights hit the stage. 🎡