Film: After the Thin Man

Director: W.S. Van Dyke
Genre: Comedy Mystery
Source: USA (1936)
Rating: Approved (probably PG)
Location/Format: DVD
Grade: B

Two Thin Men in to the Thin Man series, and I can see both the draw and the disappointments that the series might offer moving forward.

As with the original, the great fun of these movies are Powell and Loy. Their repartee and affection for one another are really entertaining, as good screwball comedy should be. As drink after drink and quip after often sexist quip go back and forth, I can't help what enjoy the chemistry between these two. They may not look like much of a match (Powell must be fifteen years older than Loy, and the years hit him harder) but their fondness for one another and apparent pleasure in one another's company really keeps the movie humming. And Asta continues to be delightful (though I feel like his subplot didn't go anywhere after a promising start, and yes that is a strange comment to make about a dog). 

That said, the mystery here (as it was in the original) is actually a little more enjoyable than the original, but the way it followed the same outline counted against it. A young looking Jimmy Stewart makes a great appearance as a young man involved in the case, and there are some great high society barbs, but the plot points in the film (holiday party, lone investigation by Powell, and the "let's get all the suspects together in a room finale) seemed to follow the pattern of the original in a way that was a little uninspired. If it becomes the exact same sequence every time, I'm going to be disappointed.

But I'm still enjoying myself two movies in, and allowing time between films may keep that pleasure going. I'll be back for a third installment in a week or two, I'm sure.

Alternate Film Title: "Seriously, This Is What Alcoholism Looks Like"