Many comedy lovers are familiar with "It's a mad, mad, mad, mad world", but far fewer are familiar with "You must be joking !", a black-and-white comedy which has a somewhat similar premise. In "You must be joking !", the British army organizes an initiative contest requiring a number of candidates to obtain a motley collection of objects, such as a rare rose or a set of decorative ducks. Keen on landing the promised reward, the candidates try to acquire the objects, by hook or by crook, while putting their rivals at a disadvantage. This will lead to things like burglary, theft, blackmail, unsafe oyster consumption and tipsy dancing on tables.
The movie starts somewhat slowly, but it's worth sitting through the first quarter of an hour since the tale gains in comedic force and momentum. The movie contains a number of successful gags, jokes and lines, while poking fun at subjects like the army, the old-boys establishment and pop music. Other viewers and reviewers will pick their own favorite scene, but I laughed hardest at the background dance supposed to spice up a pop song. Magnificently silly...
Strangely "You must be joking !" takes a very light-hearted approach to the idea of nuclear warfare, using it mainly as an opening gambit or launching pad for comical adventures. (In the beginning, the various candidates are asked to consider a country reduced to smoking rubble, from which they are supposed to salvage a number of iconic emblems.) If you are the kind of person who likes to think thoughts, you can organize a double bill of "You must be joking !" with either "Miracle mile" or "The damned", aka "These are the damned", two movies that take the horror of possible nuclear annihilation very seriously indeed. Mind you, neither "Miracle mile" nor "The damned" will bring a happy smile to your lips...
The movie starts somewhat slowly, but it's worth sitting through the first quarter of an hour since the tale gains in comedic force and momentum. The movie contains a number of successful gags, jokes and lines, while poking fun at subjects like the army, the old-boys establishment and pop music. Other viewers and reviewers will pick their own favorite scene, but I laughed hardest at the background dance supposed to spice up a pop song. Magnificently silly...
Strangely "You must be joking !" takes a very light-hearted approach to the idea of nuclear warfare, using it mainly as an opening gambit or launching pad for comical adventures. (In the beginning, the various candidates are asked to consider a country reduced to smoking rubble, from which they are supposed to salvage a number of iconic emblems.) If you are the kind of person who likes to think thoughts, you can organize a double bill of "You must be joking !" with either "Miracle mile" or "The damned", aka "These are the damned", two movies that take the horror of possible nuclear annihilation very seriously indeed. Mind you, neither "Miracle mile" nor "The damned" will bring a happy smile to your lips...
