Step Lively, Jeeves!

This is one of two Jeeves & Wooster films released by Twentieth-Century Fox on a single DVD. However, oddly, this follow-up to "Thank You, Jeeves" does NOT have Wooster--just his manservant, Jeeves! So, while they were unable to get David Niven to return for this film, Arthur Treacher was on hand to reprise his role as the imperturbable butler, Jeeves. As for me, I didn't mind too much, as Treacher was the best character (by far) in the first film--the way Treacher underplayed the guy was terrific.

While I did enjoy this second film, it was a bit of a letdown for two reasons. First, without Wooster there was a problem with the film's chemistry. Instead of a Jeeves & Wooster film, it was much more of a gangster film. Second, while Jeeves was supposedly the star of the film, Treacher seemed to have very little to do in the film other than to make a few appearances here and there. So it's clearly not up to the standards of the first film--though it is still enjoyable if you don't expect a Wodehouse story. Well produced...just not up to the standards you'd expect.

By the way, if you want to know why Wooster was not in this film, try watching the DVD extra "The World of Wodehouse" on the same DVD. It explains this as well as discusses how different the first and second film were.