You Can't Take It With You

Rating: 3.5/5

You Can't Take It With You is perfectly enjoyable and filled with great performances, though I did find it unable able to hold up to the expectations I had for it.

Jimmy Stewart is charming as always in this, but it is Jean Arthur that single-handedly steals the show in this movie. Placed against such big Hollywood names as her costars in this film, especially Lionel Barrymore, she is without a doubt the best part of the entire cast. Her character comes from a family that allows themselves to indulge in their every whim and passion, but of all her quirky relatives, she is certainly the most grounded, but by no means your typical leading lady. Her character is full of spunk and life, and is absolutely charming. For a time period where performances that felt natural and less stylized weren't entirely common, Jean Arthur makes her character feel truly real.

The main issue I had with You Can't Take It With You was how obvious it was that it was adapted from a play. Many films have had their origins on the stage, but they usually try to make that concept feel less blatant. You could see the clear moments where the film was broken up into it's stage acts, and the zany characters seemed a bit too over the top, like they had forgotten their performances didn't need to be large enough so they could be viewed by people in the back of a theater. Jimmy Stewart, Jean Arthur, and Penny Sycamore (who played the matriarch of the family) were the only ones who really seemed fitting to this story as a film.

I've certainly seen worse movies in this Academy Award Best Picture watch through, but given that this was directed by Frank Capra and my love for his film It Happened One Night, I have to say I was a trifle disappointed with You Can't Take It With You.

1939 Best Picture Winner-You Can't Take It With You

1939 Best Director Winner-Frank Capra