I don't think there's much arguing that Ernst Lubitsch was one of cinema's great comedic directors. Neither he nor his pictures have the same name recognition as the likes of Charlie Chaplin, Buster Keaton, or Harold Lloyd, yet even as my knowledge is far from complete, time and again his films are utterly delightful. 'The doll,' 'The oyster princess,' 'The wild cat,' all the way through to late works like 'To be or not to be' - and 'Meyer from Berlin' surely joins that fine company as another hearty burst of fun. Filled with sight gags, exaggerated characters, and plentiful situational humor, this is both unswervingly lighthearted and consistently entertaining.
Even so frivolous a feature is nevertheless characterized by tremendous contributions from all involved that make the viewing experience ever so easy to engage with. Lubitsch's mastery of the medium is beyond dispute, orchestrating shots and scenes with a fabulously keen eye and sharp mind. The production design and art direction are utterly terrific, rich with detail that truly lets every scene pop out, and I can likewise only commend the work of the costume designer, and hair and makeup artists. Regular collaborators Hanns Kräly and Erich Schönfelder presented Lubitsch with a joyfully silly story to which to give shape, rounded out with scene writing that is at once full and well-rounded, wasting not a moment, and brusque and direct, serving always to advance the plot and move along quickly.
Sure, silent movies can be difficult to abide for some viewers - I'd have said the same for myself at one time - and maybe there's nothing about 'Meyer from Berlin' that is likely to change one's mind in that regard. The curt editing and distinct division of scenes with intertitles amplifies an already existing sense, conjured by exaggerated facial expressions and body language, that the proceedings are staged rather than natural. So it goes with the era, however, and more so the further back in the medium one delves. For anyone receptive to what early cinema has to offer, this is reliably enjoyable all the way through, with light and decidedly uncomplicated humor that anyone could theoretically appreciate, Why, though not explicitly a "family movie," I dare say this is fairly appropriate for kids and adults alike.
It is perhaps not so robust in its comedy as other titles Lubitsch had a hand in, and it's a step too far to say it's a "must-see." Yet the filmmaker only ever aimed to provide his audiences with a good time, and if nothing else is true about 'Meyer from Berlin,' it does a fine job of letting one forget their troubles for a quick hour. That's all that some pictures need to be, after all, and if they're as broadly smart and well made as this is, then that's just an extra boon. Add in swell performances and lovely scenery on top, and save for the most unyielding of modern viewers, I don't see how anyone can watch this and not come away feeling lighter. You maybe don't need to go out of your way for it, but if you're looking for something slight and entertaining, 'Meyer from Berlin' is an excellent pick-me-up.
