Review of Honolulu

Honolulu (1939)
7/10
Goofy but pleasant
29 March 2017
Set mostly in friendly Honolulu, long before Hawaii became a state, this is a pleasant, if nonsensical, old-fashioned musical comedy with an old-fashioned plot, hinging on mistaken identity, as so many did back then.

The acting is generally good; Robert Young does most of it, with assistance from Rita Johnson. Eleanor Powell's lines, as usual, are somewhat minimal, I suspect to disguise her relative lack of acting talent. George Burns and Gracie Allen (who are kept apart for most of the film) finally get together and do a routine near the end.

The plot is one of those things about a guy who owns a pineapple plantation in Hawaii, who's a look-alike for a big movie star - Young, in a dual role. They decide to swap identities, and everyone gets confused, including the audience.

Powell plays a dancer, so we're treated to several numbers. She's marvelous, whether skipping rope while dancing, tapping like Bill Robinson in an uncanny imitation of his style, or a big hula/tap production number.

Eddie "Rochester" Anderson is in it, too.

It's an entertaining show.
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