MONKEY BUSINESS (1931) **1/2 The Marx Brothers stowaway on a cruise ship, which leads to an extended game of hide 'n' seek with the crew. Between comedic medleys they become involved with gangsters, flirt outrageously with a menagerie of passengers, and interrupt a game of chess. Marx Brothers movies aren't really about the plot, much. They're about showing off, mainly, and Harpo wins again! I would have to give the award to Chico in the musical competition (reminds me of what a teenage girl said once, about the Gibb brothers, "Imagine all that talent in just one family!" Yes, I laughed), and no one can touch Groucho for a radio narrative and attendant visuals. The girls are good, too. Thelma Todd wins both the dance and dress divisions (they had such great, elegant fashions), but Ruth Hall is close in the fashion department. No to mention the lady that Harpo assists, no, let's not mention her. Of course once you fall in with gangsters you're bound for society parties and barn dances, and the brothers aren't ones to miss out on any of that. There's a lot of Zeppo but, strangely, he doesn't interfere with the rhythm of the thing nearly as much as the otherwise impressive musical interludes.
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