So You Want to Enjoy Life

When the story begins, Joe is trying to kill himself! But his office mate, Homer, arrives and tries to talk him out of taking such a drastic step. Next you see Joe's problem acted out through a flashback. It seems the doctor gave him only 30 days to live and Joe decided to live high on the hog...spending money and buying on credit like there's no tomorrow. Naturally, it's all a big mistake...and Joe feels the only way out is to kill himself or go to jail.

This is a very dark installment of the series--probably the darkest. But it IS funny. Inconsistent as well, as Homor is played by a different actor than in the past, the company he works for has moved to a different location and there doesn't seem to be a Mrs. McDoakes. Still, despite all this, funny and cleverly written.

So You Want to Enjoy Life (1952)

*** (out of 4)

One of the better installments in the Joe McDoakes series has our favorite loser feeling tightness in his chest, a stiff neck and ringing in his ears so he goes to see a doctor who tells him he has thirty days to live. Joe decides to go out on top by running up piles of bills, quitting his job and giving his boss a few paybacks. Of course there's going to be a twist in the story. George O'Hanlon's "So..." series is always hit and miss but I found this one to be one of the best in the series because of the non-stop jokes and the delight the actor brings to his role. The film opens up with McDoakes trying to kill himself but he can't even do that correctly. The revenge that he plays on his boss gets a couple nice laughs as does his reaction to when he's told he is about to die. Another nice sequence happens when the twist is revealed, which really plays out well.

UNLIKE ANYTHING THAT this series had ever presented, SO YOU WANT TO ENJOY LIFE ventures into previously uncharted waters. At least that what its subject matter was for this particular series of comedy shorts.

HAVING AS THE central theme guy who is having some troubles with his mental health and well being, it certainly is bold in concept and was not a project that the production could just coast along with and "phone in." Great care and a good deal of thought was needed in order that the seeking and creation of the humorous did not degenerate into the tasteless and the cruel.

THAT THERE WOULD be many a difference and a definite departure from the norm is clearly defined at the outset. We zoom in on a highly distraught Mc Doakes, who tips us off that there just might be something going on that is very serious. The "clue" comes in the way he is holding a revolver in his right hand; being that it is pointed directly and close up to his right temple.

WHEN THAT FAILS to produce the desired effect, his determination turns his attention to the window in his apartment. Surely a leap from his place would serve as an agent to "end it all." But the meteorological conditions of a stiff northeasterly conspires with a vigorous snowfall made for a blizzard like Winter storm; as well as providing the impetus for pushing the hapless Joe back into the room.

THE ARRIVAL OF Joe's pal, Homer, the whole story is brought to the forefront. The help of friend Homer provides Joe with a certain degree of confidence and fortitude. It emboldens him to "live life to its fullest"; no matter how long or short it may be.

OF COURSE IT never occurred to anyone that all of these symptoms of this mysterious malady were due to something very simple. But in the true American spirit and in much the same manner as Ben Gazarra did in the television series, RUN FOR YOUR LIFE, Mc Doakes does it all with a reckless abandon.

ALL STAYS ON this trend until...........Well needless to say, our guy Joe manages to quit his job, insult the boss (Emory Parnell) physically assault an IRS agent and then plunge head first into a life of Wime, Women and Song.

THERE IS SOMEWHAT of a resemblance to some of Jackie Gleason's THE HONEYMOONERS episodes in this short. Although there is not much of any physicality between the two men and personalities are very diverse. But it is very much a matter of attitude and reasoning; or a definite lack there of.

WHAT WE HAVE been driving at is that this edition of the series could be classified as being Black Humor. The term is not one referring to any comedies featuring Black performers; but it is an old germ for humor that is derived from rather unhumourous situations. It seems to be a true rarity these days; doubtless due to its not being in line with (everyone genuflect) Political Correctness.

ALTHOUGH IT HAS been a regular feature of the series ever since its launching that there was not a whole bunch of continuity present, this short pushes the envelope even further; as there is no Alice (his Mrs.)with Joe's status being a bachelor.

ALSO, THE CHARACTER of Homer, who was a semi-regular is restored with Jackson Wheeler replacing Clifton Young (1917-51), who had died at the young age of 33 the prior year.

Joe McDoakes wants to die. His pal Homer -- who's played by a different guy in every entry in this series, but never mind -- wants to know why. So Joe tells him how he had tightness in his chest and ringing in his ears, and the doctor told him he had thirty days to live in this fine entry in the short-subject comedy series.

There used to be a lot of comedies about the comic dying, or even committing suicide: one of Max Linder's early hits was called LE PENDU, and Harold Lloyd failed in the attempt many times. George O'Hanlon is way over the top, but that's how he always played Joe in this series.