Moxie Strait (Jimmy Durante) is a successful radio comedian with two problems. First, his jokes are getting stale and he needs a new gag writer. Second, his girlfriend, Vera (Lupe Valez), is awful. She insists on being in his show and she's not funny. She also is a tramp and isn't very loyal to Moxie...even though she's supposed to be his girl.
Moxie's agent, George (William Gargan) is out to find someone who can write for Moxie...and Moxie insists he wants someone classy. So, when he learns that the intellectual, Nick (Norman Foster) has written a script for Moxie and wants to sell it to him, he jumps at the chance. Soon, Moxie is getting more laughs than ever and Nick is in demand as a writer. But there is a problem...the more successful Nick is the more of an idiot he becomes. And, so when Vera makes the moves on him, he forgets that he's married to sweet Sylvia (Marian Nixon) and begins chasing after this talentless woman. Soon, however, this catches up to him and Nick finds himself without a job and without a wife! Is there any chance for any of these folks?
I enjoyed this movie, though never have understood the appeal of Lupe Valez. She plays an obnoxious, loud and talentless woman...so, essentially, she seems to be playing herself in this movie. I know it sounds harsh, but I have trouble thinking of a less appealing leading lady and her being in demand in 1934 astounds me. Plus, how could Nick possibly chase her character when he has Sylvia?! This is a weakness in the film...a film which is a real mixed bag.
On the negative side, it's really easy to dislike Nick...especially when he begins cheating on his lovely wife. It's a real hard sell when you create a situaiton like this. On the positive, Durante is at his best here and Gargan, Nixon and Tom Kennedy are all very good here....and the script has some excellent elements. It is enjoyable...but as I said, a mixed bag! But a few good laughs and a nice performance by the Mills Brothers make this one worth your time.
