Review of The Champ

The Champ (I) (1931)
5/10
One you just haveta watch, I guess
1 March 2009
What else can be said about this film? It's now getting close to 80 years old, and yet it's still watchable. That's something I guess. It is showing it age, though.

While the storyline is incredibly simple, and overall tone is way beyond corny, one thing does stand out, Jackie Cooper's performance. Such a lot of talent in such a little boy. He really did steal the entire show.

Beery (and the whole rest of the cast as well, really) pretty much just play hokey, one-dimensional, "cardboard cutout" characters with no real development or growth. They do the numbers, do what's required, and follow the token script as far as it'll go (which isn't very far at all). And then the credits roll up.

But, hey, as I mentioned, it IS getting close to 80! Anyway, worth watching if your expectations aren't too high...
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