Movie #82- "Mr. Blandings Builds His Dream House" (1948)

Another suggestion from my co-worker, but this one didn't really resonate with me.  I've enjoyed several of  the screwball comedies from the 1930s and 40s, yet somehow, I found this one leaving a sour note.  I understand the difficulties in building a home.  I've talked with several people about the trials and tribulations of the process and even our recent home purchase wasn't exactly a walk in the park.  With "Mr. Blandings", you're left wondering how someone can be so successful in his job, and still lack any common sense.
My biggest complaint about the film is the relationship between the characters.  Cary Grant and Myrna Loy don't seem to be a loving, happy couple.  The barbs they take at each other appear more mean-spirited than charming (unlike Loy in "The Thin Man").  The film opens with Bill Cole (Melvyn Douglas) claiming to be Jim Blandings "best friend" (the quotes are his way of stating it), however, throughout the film, he treats him with contempt.  There's also an accusation of an affair between Mrs. Blandings and Bill, which is flatly denied.  However, the pair seem far more cozy together than she is with her husband.  It's almost creepy at times.  The couple have a pair of daughters that are whiny and shrill, providing nothing but annoyance.
"Mr. Blandings" does have its moments, including a well-planned tracking shot near the opening of the film.  It gives you a real sense of how cramped his world really is.  Money is really a big focus of the film, from Jim's salary to the amount that is thrown into the house project.  One simple solution could have resolved this film in one, swift moment... fire the maid and use the savings for a bigger apartment.

Rating: 5/10
Movies I've previously seen: 6
First time viewings: 76