War Mamas

"War Mamas" is a Zasu Pitts/Thelma Todd film which offers much more in the way of plot than most of their shorts. However, like too many of these films, what they do with the story is a bit of a disappointment. The overall film isn't bad...but it really isn't all that funny.

The story is set during WWI and Thelma and Zasu arrive at the front lines in France. They meet up with a couple male soldiers and head out for some fun...and somehow find themselves behind German lines. So, it's up to the girls to somehow disable a bunch of German soldiers so they can make their escape. Much of this time is spend playing Strip Poker with an idiot general and a major.

While WWI comedies could be funny (Laurel & Hardy made a couple dandy WWI films), this one failed to deliver on the laughs again and again. It was as if the writers really only had broad ideas for laughs but didn't writer them. Not a bad film exactly...but one that is strikingly unfunny given that there is more plot than usual for the pair and should have been funnier.