Movie Crazy

1932 talkie

Rating: 13/20

Plot: Harold Hall, a delusional Midwesterner, dreams of going to Hollywood to pursue an acting career. Unfortunately, he's funny looking and talentless. When a picture of a better looking guy is accidentally slipped into an envelope sent to a big-time producer, he's invited to Hollywood for the chance to live his dream. He meets a girl, meets another girl, and soon realizes that neither being an actor or a lover is necessarily easy.

Other than a few barely-funny moments, this is really not very good at all. There's a cute enough story and Lloyd is still likable (although not as likable from the moment you hear his voice), but so much of this was awkward and dull. It succeeds most during moments that look like they're pulled right from one of his silent movies. There's a too-lengthy scene involving a magician's coat (a scene that would fit just as well in any other Harold Lloyd movie as it does in this one) and a too-lengthy fight scene that is reminiscent of the climax of The Kid Brother except without a monkey. The romance plot is ludicrous, and the dialogue humor seems really forced. Also, I think Lloyd is terrific as a silent actor. The mannerisms and expressions are perfect in his silent comedies, but here, he seems out-of-place and often over-emotes. In fact, there are far too many times when his acting is just bad. There are some Lloydian moments that make it worth wading through the other stuff, but this was mostly a disappointment. I'm definitely not in a hurry to see more of his 1930's work.