Aside from some terrible films Bob Hope made in the 1960s (and there were quite a few), "Louisiana Purchase" may be among his worst for two major reasons. The biggest problem is that the film simply is not funny—a serious problem since it's a comedy! The other problem is that Hope plays a very unsympathetic character—and it's hard to root for him throughout this film that seems, at times, like a misguided rip-off of "Mr. Smith Goes to Washington".
The film begins with a very unusual and rather cute disclaimer about the film being fictional—you have to see this to understand what I mean, but it's obvious that the film makers chose to lampoon Louisiana since the state has a very, very long history of political corruption.
Hope plays a state senator with very unsavory friends. While he's serving in the senate, they are involving him in all kinds of illegal deals—completely unbeknownst to him. However, and this is odd, when he discovers what they've done, he does NOT come clean about the illegal activity but spends almost all the film trying to blackmail or corrupt an honest(!) politician who is investigating the activities of Hope's organization. While I liked Victor Moore as the sweet and daffy crusading US senator, everything about Hope seemed self-centered and sleazy. And, inexplicably, a lady who somehow has come to instantly love him has agreed to try to destroy Moore! This made little sense—as did her weird reversal after they were able to set him up. The final portion of the film is right out of "Mr. Smith" and ends with an ending that just seems too pat and hard to believe.
As I said, nothing about this is funny nor is the leading man (Hope) likable—and without these elements the film cannot help but be a failure. Watchable but only of interest to very rabid Hope fans—ones who are willing to look past the film's many, many deficits.
By the way, this is on a DVD with another Hope film—"Never Say Die". This second film IS very good and makes the disk worth obtaining.
