Sitting Pretty

Pete and Chick (Jack Haley and Jack Oakie) are a strange mismatched pair of songwriters. Pete is a nice guy...but Chick isn't. He tends to act like a big guy...but down deep he's a jerk as you see through much of the movie. He lies as often as he breathes and is a tough guy to like...but somehow Pete trusts this guy. Together, they work and scheme their way to Hollywood and once they start to make it big, Chick dumps Pete in order to further his own career.

The formula is that eventually Chick will see the light and reform...leading to a tearful reunification with Pete. But the writer made Chick such an unlikeable jerk that the movie is weakened considerably. Instead of wanting to see them reunited, you just wish a street car would flatten Chick and Pete would then get on with his life!

It's a real shame, as toning down Oakie's character might have allowed the story to shine...especially since Ginger Rogers is also on hand and she is hard to notice due to Chick's bombastic and selfish nature. Also, having Chick be such a jerk, it makes Pete seem like a real weiner for caring about his 'friend'...no, Pete's more a doormat. The only plus is the kid who plays Rogers' little brother...as he thinks the pair stink and seems to be the voice of audience members who disliked this stuff!

Overall, it's a formulaic piece with good actors saddled with a second-rate script...or possibly third-rate.