I get it but I don't get it

Rating: 2/10 (17 November 2005)

Maybe I should say, I get it but it's not funny. I am admittedly not a fan of the Marx brothers although I do acknowledge them for their contributions to modern comedy. But, frankly, I always thought Bugs Bunny did Groucho a lot better than Groucho. I do recall watching reruns of Groucho's game show, 'You bet your Life,' and would have to say that any one of those episodes is better than this movie. At least during those shows he is somewhat personal and engages other people instead of just ridiculing them. In this supposed 'Political Satire' Groucho's character becomes the incompetent and bungling leader of Fredonia, a mythical kingdom. He then sets out with the help of his side kicks to make fun of just about every aspect of government. Yea, I get it.
George W haters will probably like this movie for the sheer pleasure of reading him into Groucho's character Rufus Firefly. But the jokes are just stretched too far and Groucho and his brothers are too sophomoric to be taken seriously as political satirists.
While some of the jokes may have been ground breaking in their day, like the mirror sequence and the motorcycle stunt, all of them have been done better since. I still laugh out loud every time Barney Fife rides away leaving Andy sitting in the side car of the police motorcycle. I assume that gag came from this film but Barney does it better, and in black and white as well.
Maybe it isn't fair to compare the film to modern comedy. It isn't anything like a Jerry Seinfeld introspection and wasn't meant to be. Still, it is filled with jokes that were done later and better by other comics. Who is to say they didn't steal them anyway. Two thumbs down. As for the other Marx brothers I wonder if they would have ever even had a career without Groucho. I gather one is some sort of mute clown and the other an Italian stereotype. Maybe that played back then but not now. To me Groucho keeps telling the same joke over an over. Kind of like Jim Carrey. Hardly funny the first time then really irritating.
Watch it for the historical value if you must, to see what films used to be like. Plan to waste 68 minutes of your life.