This gem of an old movie is every bit worth watching.
Even without the unsurpassed Cary Grant and his unique charms, this follow-up has more comedy per frame than the original "Topper" film. Whereas the earlier benefits from Grant and his suave charisma, this sequel excels because it gets everyone and everything working just right for its comic tempo.
I think the main reason behind that is simple enough to grasp. The main character of the film and the series is "Topper", not the Cary Grant character. But as it happens, the character and the actor playing that main character took its time "developing", and in this movie it reached its zenith. Cary Grant character however needed no further development, being happily dead.
The same can be understood in another way: Young/Ghost took his time beating Grant/Ghost off: he was overshadowed, not just literally, by the younger, more charming and superior acting presence that Grant was.
Whereas to some, Young's acting in "Returns" might look like a mere bleak copy of Grant's acting in "Topper", I do not buy that for a mo. disagree.
Even without the unsurpassed Cary Grant and his unique charms, this follow-up has more comedy per frame than the original "Topper" film. Whereas the earlier benefits from Grant and his suave charisma, this sequel excels because it gets everyone and everything working just right for its comic tempo.
I think the main reason behind that is simple enough to grasp. The main character of the film and the series is "Topper", not the Cary Grant character. But as it happens, the character and the actor playing that main character took its time "developing", and in this movie it reached its zenith. Cary Grant character however needed no further development, being happily dead.
The same can be understood in another way: Young/Ghost took his time beating Grant/Ghost off: he was overshadowed, not just literally, by the younger, more charming and superior acting presence that Grant was.
Whereas to some, Young's acting in "Returns" might look like a mere bleak copy of Grant's acting in "Topper", I do not buy that for a mo. disagree.
