classicsoncall I guess there's a fine line between screwball comedy and slapstick. This one came down a bit more on the slapstick side once it got going and left me somewhat unsatisfied, even with the caliber of players in the lead roles. Cary Grant was a veteran of these kinds of pictures, but for a better definition of 'screwball', you'd have to check him out in "Bringing Up Baby" or "His Gal Friday", both from a decade earlier.Something occurred to me as I watched this and I never mentioned it before, but there's always a first time. Have you ever noticed, no matter how big the star or their celebrity appeal, it all seems to go by the boards when they step into a 1950's era kitchen and the appliances make things feel so outdated. That's the first thing that hit me when the Fulton's (Grant and Ginger Rogers) entered their home for the first time. Not that it bothers me because that's just the way things were, but it's something of a shocker when you see it today considering all the modern gadgetry we have available now. Just an observation.Now Marilyn Monroe, it didn't help her real life persona to be cast in a role like this because she had to carry that dumb blonde personality around all throughout her short career. If she had gotten more roles like the her character Roslyn Taber in "The Misfits", well, who knows, her self esteem might have taken her on an entirely different course. As it is, we'll never know.So getting back to the story, we come to find out that at least in this case, the old fountain of youth is not all that it's cracked up to be, especially when monkeyshines are involved. Speaking of which, I wish the chimp who performed here was credited for the role, it had the best facial expressions of any I've ever seen, and that would include Cheeta from all those Tarzan flicks of old. You know, Cheeta lived to the ripe old age of seventy nine, so when Barnaby described 'Rudolph' as being eighty four, the writers wouldn't have been too far off the mark. But then again, they had 'Esther' on screen, so who would ever know?After all the hi-jinx, the story finally comes around to the message we probably all were waiting for, that is, the idea expressed in my summary line delivered by Barnaby Fulton. Another way of expressing it would have been the way Barnaby replied to Miss Laurel (Monroe) when she asked him if his motor was running - "Is yours?"

weezeralfalfa The plot of this farce is very simple: Industrial chemist Barnaby(Cary Grant) has been trying for some years to create a concoction that makes us feel young again. Along comes one of his Chimp "guinea pigs", which escaped from her cage, and mixes a concoction that she pours into the empty water cooler, presumably to see if it does anything interesting to the imbibers. Result: it has dramatic effects on the behavior of imbibers: the more they drink, the farther back in time is their behavior, but only temporarily unless they keep on imbibing. Initially, Cary and Ginger Rogers act like well off college kids. After this wears off, they unknowingly drink a bigger dose and revert to the behavior of 10 year olds. Cary's boss, played by Charles Colburn, is even treated to the claim by Ginger that the toddler she brought with her is actually Cary! This is the second Hollywood film entitled "Monkey Business" that I am aware of. The 1931 Marx Brothers film lacks any monkeys or apes. but includes plenty of "monkey business". Of course, the comedic persona of the brothers was very different from that of Cary or Ginger. Theirs is rooted in vaudeville, emphasizing rapid-fire one liners, insults and physical slapstick, and usually incorporating a number of musical productions here and there(to the irritation of those who believe that music should be kept out of or minimized in comedies). From what I have seen, Cary usually tries to maintain a dignified composure even in the face of comedic adversity. An exception occurs when he is supposed to be acting as a 10 year old. Then, he and Ginger act more like Laurel and Hardy, for example. Typically, the screenplays of both are quite absurd. If that bothers you, better leave them for the kids to watch. In general, I find the humor in Cary comedies to be slow to develop, and inferior in total comedic content to that of various other contemporary comedians, despite the lack of musical interludes. This is true of the present film, although it's funnier than most Cary comedies I've Seen. Marylyn Monroe, in serving as Charles Colburn's non-too-talented secretary, is cast as mostly a buxom "straight man" and Cary's temporary companion, when he was feeling 20ish, for part of a day.In the end, after the remainder of the rejuvenating potion was inadvertently poured down the sink, with the formula unknown, Cary and Ginger conclude that what he has been chasing is too dangerous and not really that helpful, that: "You're old only when you forget you are young". Of course, today, we have an ever expanding stock of cosmetic, as well as, fundamental means of turning the clock back for many people, or reducing the speed of aging, in the first place.Especially recommended for children of a certain age.

jotix100 Barnaby Fulton is a typical absent minded scientist. When we first see him, he is preparing to go out with his wife Edwina to a dance. He clearly does not want to go, because in his mind, the formula he has been working on has him worried. The secret youth producing elixir will not be able to be produced. Barnaby works for a company that is capitalizing its existence on the success of a product that will change people's lives as their lives will benefit with a youth feeling that no one else has marketed.Unknown to Barnaby, one chimp in the lab, decides to imitate Dr. Fulton and creates its own formula which he dumps in the water cooler. Barnaby, decides to taste his own creation himself, something the company does not encourage. Finding it ever so bitter, he must have some water to take away the after taste he gets after drinking his formula. The results are amazing: Barnaby becomes a reckless young man."Monkey Business" owes its success to the great Howard Hawks, a man that produced some of the best comedies of Hollywood that still are seen again and again. Mr. Hawks was a versatile man that knew what the public wanted. The comedy worked because all the elements came together to make it a timeless piece that will be enjoyed by audiences of all ages. The screenplay was by Ben Hecht, Charles Lederer and I.A.L. Diamond, and based on a story by Harry Segal.An inspired Cary Grant is the basically the excuse for watching the film. He shows his range in playing the morose scientist as well as the younger man that has fun playing with children as well. Mr. Grant is perfect as Barnaby. Ginger Rogers also has some excellent moments when she tastes her husband's magical formula, reverting to the time when she had just married Barnaby. Marilyn Monroe added a touch of mischief playing the secretary with all the right equipment to distract men at the office. Charles Coburn and Hugh Marlowe are also seen in supporting roles.

Alex da Silva A monkey invents a potion that rejuvenates humans and plops it into the office water machine in a science lab. Meanwhile, chemist Barnaby (Cary Grant) has been trying to develop a youth formula for years. He drinks his latest formula but it tastes a bit off so he goes to the water cooler. Yep - he takes a drink of water and ....woah ........what's happening..? Well, he's the monkey's first victim. He starts acting 'youthful' and everyone thinks he has succeeded in inventing Life's Youth Juice. We follow Barnaby and his wife Edwina (Ginger Rogers) as they inadvertently keep consuming the monkey formula every time that they take a drink of water from the water cooler.....will the monkey get credit for the invention? The film has a cast that excites on paper but it doesn't live up to expectations. The whole beginning sequence drags - the first 15 minutes should have been thrown out. The cast are all likable but Cary Grant and Ginger Rogers are made to act out scenes that could be over in a couple of minutes as opposed to 'let's drag it out' for 10 minutes. However, opposed to the tedious, drawn out slapstick rubbish that we are offered, we are also given moments of comic genius. George Winslow, who plays one of the kids, provides laugh-out-loud entertainment with every word of dialogue that he utters. Genius.Overall, the film entertains. It has peaks and troughs. Ginger Rogers displays good balancing skills while balancing a cup of water on her forehead as she stands up and lies down and goes back to standing position. Cool trick. Cary Grant is occasionally funny, Marilyn Monroe (Lois) is also good - she's not so irritating and baby talking as usual - while Charles Coburn (Oxley) is good value as always. Check out his request for his secretary, Marilyn, to pass on the simple duty of typing to someone else other than her.It's worth watching if you can get over the crappy beginning. I don't particularly care for kids in films but George Winslow rules.