Absolutely Relentless

Rating: Null/10 (20 August 2011)

As this is my first review, I feel a bit silly about giving this a ten. If any film ever deserved it though, it's this one. Hyperbole non withstanding, I absolutely love this movie. At a certain level it can be taken as a satire, but beyond that, it's just joyous, surreal anarchy. In fact, for all Groucho does to screw up the government here, I don't think this film is really drawing parallels to other leaders. Groucho is not stupid here or misguided, because Rufus T Firefly is no different from any of his other roles. But before I become too analytical here, let me stress the comedy of the film. Jokes are fired at you at a breakneck pace, and before you can even comprehend a joke that falls flat, three more come at you. And for every joke that doesn't work, 50 do. I'm not kidding. There is nothing here to be taken seriously. The only purpose of the film is to make you laugh. And if it's all just too much for the viewer to take in, watch a Night at the Opera first. But once you become used to the Marxes, nothing can beat this. One of the greatest comedies of all time.