MY FAVORITE WIFE (Garson Kanin, RKO Pictures, 1940)

Since Irene Dunne and Cary Grant work so well together in every other film they appear in I was really disappointed that MY FAVORITE WIFE (Garson Kanin, RKO Pictures, 1940) was such a train wreck of a film. The narrative premise was a good one, one that surprisingly hasn't been re-done. Man thinks wife is dead, re-marries and first wife re-appears. And with two great stars like Dunne and Grant it should've worked. But I think these two characters were both so petty and just not likable as to drive the narrative down. There were a few scattered moments of comedy (like when Grant says the phones are down right as the phone rings) but they were too few and far between. The technical work is your standard classical Hollywood studio machine and so nothing stands out in this film. And to think that you have two great stars at the top of their game with the as great Leo McCarey on board as co-writer and producer yet this film still falls amazingly flat. If you're a diehard Grant fan, or love Irene Dunne then watch the film. Otherwise, pass. You'll thank me later.