...but not side-splitting hilarious. Beware the reviews labeling "The Bank Dick" one of the greatest comedies of all time. If you watch it with that idea in mind, you're likely going to be at least mildly disappointed.
Plot in a nutshell: A useless drunk bumbles his way into money and a job, mostly by pure dumb luck.
I will say that the film gets better as it moves along. But I was struck with the realization about 20 minutes into it that I really hadn't laughed yet. Needless to say, that is not good for any film purporting to be a comedy. Thankfully, it does pick up steam and there are some good moments from that point forward. One that comes to mind was when Fields' character makes front page headlines for being a hero. He hurries home to share the news with his family, and his mother-in-law, without saying a word, takes the newspaper from his hands and immediately whips it into the fire, so great is their contempt for him. They don't care what he has to say, they've heard it all before and frankly don't give a ****! I am smiling now just remembering that scene.
The story, such as it is, centers around Egbert Sousé (Fields) who seems to be as focused on drinking booze as Whimpy is on eating a hamburger. One wonders how he is able to support a family with such a singular purpose; but then again these films aren't known for their solid plots. Sousé soon finds himself entangled in all manner of situations, including foiling a bank robbery, standing in for a film director, embroiling his future son-in-law in an embezzlement/get-rich-quick scheme, and a car chase that reminded me of the climax of 1963's "The Pink Panther" (minus the gorilla suits).
I like W.C. Fields, but I've always liked The Marx Brothers and Laurel & Hardy more, and I think I know why. They were able to take their comedy/craziness to another level, where you literally are laughing out loud and rewinding the film to watch a skit over again. I don't get that feeling with Fields. He is funny, but he's like 'slow-burn' funny. He'll mumble things, or make odd, out-of-place statements like "yeah we have mustard at the house" and "I'll have a fountain pen by then." (You'll know them when you hear them in the film.) They make you smile, but they aren't gut-busters.
I think that sums up Fields in general, and "The Bank Dick" in particular. They are funny, and worth your time, but you aren't going to fall off your chair watching them. Good, sometimes very good, not necessarily great.
7/10. Would I watch again (Y/N)?: Yes.
Plot in a nutshell: A useless drunk bumbles his way into money and a job, mostly by pure dumb luck.
I will say that the film gets better as it moves along. But I was struck with the realization about 20 minutes into it that I really hadn't laughed yet. Needless to say, that is not good for any film purporting to be a comedy. Thankfully, it does pick up steam and there are some good moments from that point forward. One that comes to mind was when Fields' character makes front page headlines for being a hero. He hurries home to share the news with his family, and his mother-in-law, without saying a word, takes the newspaper from his hands and immediately whips it into the fire, so great is their contempt for him. They don't care what he has to say, they've heard it all before and frankly don't give a ****! I am smiling now just remembering that scene.
The story, such as it is, centers around Egbert Sousé (Fields) who seems to be as focused on drinking booze as Whimpy is on eating a hamburger. One wonders how he is able to support a family with such a singular purpose; but then again these films aren't known for their solid plots. Sousé soon finds himself entangled in all manner of situations, including foiling a bank robbery, standing in for a film director, embroiling his future son-in-law in an embezzlement/get-rich-quick scheme, and a car chase that reminded me of the climax of 1963's "The Pink Panther" (minus the gorilla suits).
I like W.C. Fields, but I've always liked The Marx Brothers and Laurel & Hardy more, and I think I know why. They were able to take their comedy/craziness to another level, where you literally are laughing out loud and rewinding the film to watch a skit over again. I don't get that feeling with Fields. He is funny, but he's like 'slow-burn' funny. He'll mumble things, or make odd, out-of-place statements like "yeah we have mustard at the house" and "I'll have a fountain pen by then." (You'll know them when you hear them in the film.) They make you smile, but they aren't gut-busters.
I think that sums up Fields in general, and "The Bank Dick" in particular. They are funny, and worth your time, but you aren't going to fall off your chair watching them. Good, sometimes very good, not necessarily great.
7/10. Would I watch again (Y/N)?: Yes.