Rated: Not Rated
Director: Irving Pichel
Not many 12-year-olds can claim Carole Lombard, Bette Davis, Humphrey Bogart and William Powell as their favorite actors - but that was me at that age, when my love for classic Hollywood films kicked in. To this day, the 1930's and 1940's remain the best decades for Hollywood film production, to me ... and one of the best of the best, actor-wise, was always the suave, sophisticated, but entirely hilarious William Powell. Mr. Peabody and the Mermaid was one of his I hadn't seen, so happily I sat down to watch the story of the hapless Mr. Peabody (Powell), just turned fifty and feeling middle age coming on, who while on a vacation with his wife in the Caribbean happens to run into a mermaid. Yes, you read that right; a mermaid, played wonderfully by the classically beautiful Ann Blyth as a blonde. Even buying into the fantastical storyline, I was enjoying the first half of the film ... but ended up ultimately so disappointed in what quickly turns into some kind of diatribe on what happens to a man when he approaches middle age. That's as much as I can say without spoilers, but the film really, truly was such a disappointment - in particular the one heck of a letdown of an ending that do none of the characters - especially Mr. Peabody - justice. The comedy is decent, performances solid, but largely snuffed out by the romance and drama, and with the star power both in front of and behind this film it's a shame the end product packs such a small, wimpy punch. (Note: the video below is the entire film, not just a trailer.) 3/10 stars
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