Review of Room Service

The only Marx Bros. film made at RKO is enjoyable despite not feeling very much like a Marx Bros. picture at all. It's the first movie the brothers made with parts not written specifically for them. The plot is about producer Groucho, his assistants Chico & Harpo, and actress Lucille Ball trying to get a play financed while avoiding being thrown out of their hotel. It's a movie based on a stage play and feels like it. Most of the movie takes place in one hotel room and the script is very talky. The last part wouldn't be a bad thing if the script was written with Groucho in mind. But it wasn't so Groucho doesn't get a lot of witty one-liners here. There are no gags or zingers that would make a Marx Bros. highlight reel in this one. But, on the plus side, there are no lame musical numbers to sit through. In addition to the brothers and Lucy, the cast includes Donald MacBride, Frank Albertson, and a 15 year-old Ann Miller (playing older). They're all fine but Margaret Dumont is sorely missed. There are a lot of things not to like about this but it works well enough for what it is. Keep expectations low and you'll probably find it's a good time-passer, even though it's not a classic.