It's a Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad World| Review

The comedy genre very rarely entertains. Even classics like Groundhog Day, Caddyshack, and Ghostbusters are all mediocre at best. Most of the worst films of all time lists usually include such comedies as Jack and Jill and Freddy Got Fingered. The genre is all too packed with box office and critical bombs that it's way to hard find an even remotely decent comedy nowadays. There are some comedies that I do enjoy, that are even some of my all-time favorites, like Airplane! and It's a Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad World.

The film begins with a traffic jam. A man in his dying words tells the volunteers trying to save him about a treasure he buried located under a W. Reluctant to decide on how to split the treasure evenly, they embark on a race to find it. Along the way, they use helicopters, cars, and planes, and destroy almost every building they pass through.

I came into the film expecting not to like it but was thankfully subverted. While I didn't laugh for most of it, the stunt work was done very well and some of the jokes actually landed. Stanley Kramer does an incredible job directing 5+ characters, something I haven't seen before. He mostly made dramas and character-studies before the film released in '63. All the actors and actresses give great performances. Only flaw lies from a personal distaste for the comedy genre, as well as a somewhat long runtime. Likewise, a shorter runtime would give the film injustice. Definitely a great film, in a somewhat sub-par genre.

Time Stamp: May 12, 2020