Crackers Movie Reviews
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Family movie reviews for "Crackers" sorted by average review score:
Animal Crackers
Released in DVD by Image Entertainment (17 October, 2000)
Starring: Groucho Marx, Harpo Marx, and Chico Marx
This second Marx Brothers classic has Groucho playing Captain Spaulding (an inside joke pertaining to a renowned Hollywood drug pusher), whose song "Hooray for Captain Spaulding" became his signature anthem. Despite its staginess, it has some hilarious gags as the boys try to solve the mystery of a stolen painting among the high-society crowd. Some of the highlights include Groucho's African lecture about shooting an elephant in his pajamas, and a wacky card game between Harpo, Chico, and the always-gullible Margaret Dumont. The musical interludes here don't seem as awkward as in later films. It's really quite charming watching Chico and Harpo show off their graceful talents. --Bill Desowitz
Average review score: 
Good early Marx Brothers footageThe Marx Brothers were legendary comics. THis film is much like most of there films with sappy romance, chopped up scenes, formulatic plots, bad music numbers, piano solos, harp solos, and HILARITY!!!! Groucho uses sharp puns while Harpo and Chico do there usual as trying to get Groucho in someway, with Harpo not hearing quite right. This is not quite Duck Soup, buy it is a good rent. The dvd looks wrather poor; it plays like a vhs tape.No menu, nothing. The quality is pretty comparable, and the sound just doesn't sound right. I was very lucky to borrow this disc from a friend, but it's almost impossible to find this on tape, let alone disc. Let me tell you, people: it's not worth it. I probably would never buy this film, but if you absolutely love it, buy the tape. If your worried about whearing it out, a new, much cheaper, much improved disc will be available for sale. Funny, if a little dated film. Thank you for taking the time to read my review and feel free to leave me a helpful/ not helpful feedback. God Bless America!
Seminal work of (Groucho)MARXISM !ANIMAL CRACKERS has moments that are hysterically funny. If you love movies;comedy;or enjoy relishing talent of one of the world's greatest wise-ass wits, this is THE work of seminal Groucho Marxism to savor. Along with incomparable razor "dozens" of Julius Henry,there are inane tete a tetes between Chico and Harpo(unmasking "Abie the Fishman"...posing as High Society Poohbah and Art Connoisseur...is side-splitting).Even underrated Zeppo shines as Groucho's Field Secretary(the Letter he transcribes IS the world renowned CAPTAIN SPAULDING Manifesto). Margaret Dumont is typically classy as Groucho's feminine foil and straight-woman.
HOORAY FOR CAPTAIN SPAULDING! is,of course,one of cinema's SIGNUM theme songs.(Monty Norman considered jazzing-it for his 007 theme).Many Marxist films are certainly worthy of serious study. But...if you only view one...You Bet Your Life this is the winner!
My favorite Marx Bros. filmAnd here's why. The first 10 minutes of this movie leaves me smiling for days. "Hello I must be going"..etc,. Groucho's entrance as Capt. Spaulding in a hysterical parody of musical theater is priceless. His "negotiation " with Chico that immediately follows is equally funny.
Margaret Dumont is perfectly cast as a prim and proper society woman serving as the foil to Groucho's lunacy.
I know that this film usually ranks below some of the later more polished productions that followed but Animal Crackers captures the Marx Bros at their vaudevillian best. It's a movie well worth owning.
Margaret Dumont is perfectly cast as a prim and proper society woman serving as the foil to Groucho's lunacy.
I know that this film usually ranks below some of the later more polished productions that followed but Animal Crackers captures the Marx Bros at their vaudevillian best. It's a movie well worth owning.