Watch the Birdie (1935)
** 1/2 (out of 4)
This hit and miss comedy features Bob Hope playing a practical joker on a cruise ship with the woman he wants to marry. He ends up playing jokes on several people and this comes back to haunt him when one of them turns out to be the girl's father (in a predictable scene). WATCH THE BIRDIE is mainly going to be for fans of Hope who want to see what the legend was doing before he really hit it big. It's really too bad this two-reeler falls apart in the final act because there were some funny moments early on. I thought Hope did a pretty good job with his role and I especially like the way he sold the various jokes. These include a telescope with black tar on it, a camera with a bird that flies out and one dealing with a punch to the eye. What really doesn't work early on is the annoying younger sister who keeps showing up. I know this was meant to be cute but she got on my nerves after the first joke and each time she showed up after that just had me wishing she'd go away for good. The middle of the film deals with Hope getting stuck on the ship and there's not a single laugh to be had here. The final showdown really doesn't pay off either.
