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6.5/10
Senior Film Conservator
A definitive 6.5/10 rating for a film that redefined the boundaries of cult cinema. Young as You Feel remains a cornerstone of transgressive art.
If you have about 75 minutes and want to see a legendary comedian act like he’s lost his mind to spite his kids, then Young as You Feel is a solid pick. It’s perfect for people who miss the kind of humor where a man in a tuxedo skipping down the street was the height of rebellion. If you hate old movies where everyone talks like they’re in a stage play, you’ll probably find this one pretty annoying.
Will Rogers plays Lemuel Morehouse, a guy who runs a meatpacking company and just wants his sons to eat dinner with him. One son is obsessed with "culture" and the other is a fitness nut, and neither of them seems to care about the family business at all. It’s that classic dynamic where the parents worked hard so the kids could be unbearable.
The movie really kicks off when Lemuel meets Fleurette, a French singer played by Fifi D'Orsay. She basically tells him he's a bore, and he decides to take that personally. Seeing Rogers go from a grumpy businessman to a guy who stays out all night at speakeasies is actually pretty funny. He doesn't look like a party animal, which makes the whole thing feel more authentic and weirdly charming.
One of the best bits involves a $20,000 modern art statue that his son Billy buys. It turns out to be a total hunk of junk, and the way Lemuel handles the guy who sold it is peak Will Rogers. He doesn't get mad; he just out-maneuvers the guy with this dry, effortless wit that makes you realize why he was such a huge star. It reminded me a bit of the social satire you see in Isn't Life Terrible?, though this has a lot more dialogue.
The plot gets a little messy when they head to Colorado. There’s a whole subplot about a blackmailer and a jealous husband that feels like it belongs in a different movie. It’s one of those things where you can tell the writers were just trying to find a way to get everyone into a hotel lobby for a big finale. The pacing drops off a bit here.
I noticed the sound quality is a bit hit-or-miss, which is common for 1931. Sometimes the background noise in the office scenes is louder than the actual talking. It gives it a clunky, lived-in feel that I actually kind of like, even if it wasn't on purpose. It’s definitely not as polished as something like The Age for Love, but it has more heart.
The ending is where it gets truly bizarre in a great way. Lemuel ends up on a boat to Paris with the French singer and her husband. It’s not a romance; they’re just "pals." It’s a very modern take for a movie that’s nearly a hundred years old. Then there’s Noah Marley, Lemuel's business partner, who shows up in a toupee and a bunch of young women. The toupee falling in the water is the final joke, and honestly, it’s a perfect way to end a movie about not taking yourself too seriously.
It’s not a masterpiece, but it’s a good time. Rogers has this way of looking at the camera sometimes like he’s in on the joke with you. It makes the whole experience feel like you’re hanging out with a funny uncle who’s had one too many drinks at a wedding. 🍻
I’d say give it a watch if you’re tired of movies that try too hard to be deep. This one just wants you to loosen up and maybe buy a funny hat. It’s much better than some of the other fluff from that era, like The Love Thrill, because it actually has something to say about getting old without being depressing about it.
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