Sure, it might not have been a critical darling back in the day, but who cares? This film is a full-on assault on the senses, packed with rapid-fire puns, slapstick that'll make you cringe (in the best way possible), and enough wordplay to make Shakespeare jealous.
The plot? Think "Monty Python and the Holy Grail" meets "Veep," but with even more bananas. Groucho plays the hilariously inept dictator of Freedonia, a nation fueled by pure absurdity. His only goal? To woo the wealthy Mrs. Teasdale and her money, of course. But before you can say "international incident," things get complicated with a rival nation and a war that's so outlandish, it'll have you questioning the very meaning of conflict.
The true magic of "Duck Soup" lies in the brothers' comedic genius. Groucho's signature wit is on full display here, with lines like "A child of five could understand this. But, you see, the trouble is, we have very few children of five in Congress." that are just as funny today as they were decades ago. And let's not forget Harpo and Chico, whose slapstick antics are guaranteed to make you snort your drink (but maybe don't drink while watching this, you'll need all your focus to keep up).
This isn't just a funny movie; it's a sharp critique of war, politics, and the absurdity of human behavior. The brothers may have claimed they were just trying to make people laugh, but "Duck Soup" ends up being a hilarious and surprisingly insightful commentary on our world.
So, if you're looking for a comedy that's both laugh-out-loud funny and surprisingly thought-provoking, look no further than "Duck Soup." It's a cinematic gem that proves sometimes, the best way to make a point is to make people laugh until their sides hurt.