Simply A Masterpiece

It’s fine. It's literally the definition of a fine movie. You’ve seen it before, you know every beat and outcome before the characters even do. Only question is how much escapism you’re looking for.

The story, direction, characters, and writing/dialogue is akin to taking a tranquilizer shot to the neck, but everything else was so well done.

The film never slows down or bores, plunging from one harrowing sequence to the next.

"Too Many Cooks" is a very unusual film. While Bert Wheeler had already made quite a few movies with Robert Wooley, here in this film RKO decided to split up the comedy team and have Wheeler star in a film only with Dorothy Lee...a cute young lady who frequently appeared as Wheeler's love interest in the Wheeler and Woolsey flicks. Considering this was the only Wheeler film without Wooley during Woolsey's lifetime, you can only assume that the film wasn't a big success. As for me, I never really liked Wooley's sort of humor...and I think it's actually one of Wheeler's best films. The story finds Albert (Wheeler) and Alice (Lee) in love and planning on getting married. Life looks grand for the pair and they soon start planning on building a dream house which should be ready by the time they marry. However, their wonderful plans start to come unraveled when family gets involved. Her family is full of many pushy and obnoxious folks who spend all their time telling the couple what to do and how they should change their house's blueprints. His only family member is Uncle George...and he's no better. He insists it should be built his way...and if not, George is going to fire Albert!! Not surprisingly, soon the plans for the wedding are up in smoke and Albert and Alice are miserable.While the story is a bit simplistic (especially the ending), the film is quite enjoyable. It's also a wonderful film for ALL young couples to watch so as to avoid the pitfalls of pushy family and unclear expectations! It also works well because you just can't help liking Wheeler and Lee's characters...they are adorable and so sweet that their plight really gets to you. A winner...and I wish the pair had made more films without Woolsey considering the result!By the way, while this is a very good film, I certainly cringed at seeing Roscoe Ates and his god-awful stuttering shtick. It was embarrassing and rather mean-spirited...and very popular in its day.

1931's "Too Many Cooks" was RKO's failed attempt to double their profits by splitting up their greatest asset, the comedy team of Bert Wheeler and Robert Woolsey, into separate features, Wheeler here, Woolsey following in "Everything's Rosie." Delightful Dorothy Lee, present in 14 of their 20 RKOs, was just as indispensable, happily retained for this dated property from actor/playwright Frank Craven, remembered by horror buffs as Dr. Harry Brewster opposite Lon Chaney in 1943's "Son of Dracula." Bert and Dorothy were unhappy during the filming, but their real-life affection for each other carries the picture through to the end, as an engaged couple building their dream home on a vacant lot in a rural area in upstate New York, 63 miles from NYC. He finally meets her extended family, all rather pushy and disapproving of him, while she reacts negatively to his wealthy uncle's plan to move in with them once the house is finished (Dorothy's best friend is played by Sharon Lynn, best remembered for Laurel and Hardy's "Way Out West," while Ruth Weston followed this with "The Public Defender," opposite Richard Dix and Boris Karloff). There's actually little else to the story, too close to reality to be amusing, Bert Wheeler's fairly straight rendition quite unlike anything else he did on screen, a role that was better suited for the domestic Hal Roach comic Charlie Chase. Dorothy Lee is as adorable as ever, and like Bert is called upon for a serious performance that makes one yearn for a little song and dance patter to lighten the unfunny mood. Always a good match, their wonderful on screen chemistry survives intact, but watching the hopeful lovebirds giving in to the demands of others is hardly surefire material for laughter; still, it may just be superior to Woolsey's "Everything's Rosie," which virtually by default is clearly the funnier of the two. After this, RKO dropped any further solo vehicles for Wheeler and Woolsey and teamed them for their 7th feature, "Caught Plastered," again with Dorothy Lee.

Arriving in the country, New York businessman Bert Wheeler (as Albert "Al" Bennett) and his pretty fiancée Dorothy Lee (as Alice Cook) are driven, by stuttering coach driver Roscoe Ates (as Wilson), to the lot where Mr. Wheeler plans to build their "dream house." On another visit, to see the foundation, Wheeler and Ms. Lee disagree on a small room. He wants a den, but she favors a sewing room. Wheeler wonders, "A whole room just to sew in?" After an endless arrival of Lee's relatives, the suggestions get out of hand...Wheeler's uncle and boss Robert McWade (as George) decides he wants to live with the couple, who may not be getting married after all...Bert Wheeler and Robert Woolsey were very popular when they split up to make separate feature films in mid-1931. Something was missing and the duo re-teamed to enjoy even greater box-office popularity. "Too Many Cooks" is an update of Frank Craven's 1914 stage production. This version seems too ordinary and predictable, although the dialogue and look are modern enough. One strength is having the house become more of a "character" in the comedy; alas, filmmakers don't get enough mileage out of this opportunity.**** Too Many Cooks (7/18/31) William Seiter ~ Bert Wheeler, Dorothy Lee, Robert McWade, Roscoe Ates

This film version of Frank Craven's stage play moves at a snail's pace, does not have a funny line of dialogue, and it's few physical gags fall flat. My favorite man-child, Bert Wheeler, stars without his then partner, Robert Woolsey, in a straight role. He has no chance to shine. His usual love interest, Dorothy Lee, is his co-star. Neither Wheeler nor Lee were much in the acting department; they are musical comedy stars. The film would have been lifeless with any cast, but using Wheeler and Lee without at least one musical number is a crime. There isn't even a background score. Not a note of music is heard until the final title card. The film could have been funny if Wheeler had been permitted to play the bewildered man-child which he was famous for. It could have benefited by casting Woolsey in the part played by the bland Hallam Cooley. Wheeler was capable of working without Woolsey and he proved this after Woolsey's untimely death. However, this film started with a flimsy foundation and required much re-vamping to make it an acceptable vehicle.