A Skelton movie is always good for at least a few laughs. Even when the storyline is pretty well hacked up, as it is here, some of his slapstick bits still register. Here he's an inept camera store-owner turned inept photographer, who gets involved with a housing developer (Dahl). Trouble is her housing project is being sabotaged by insiders. Skelton stumbles across their plot and now they're after him. So, will pa Skelton and grandpa Skelton get their youngest and his girl out of the stew, (Red in three roles!).I agree with others—this is a lesser Skelton vehicle. It never really gels. Instead, the narrative resembles beads of comedic bits strung along a choppy string. Nonetheless, there are some funny sketches—Red and a fat guy undressing in what amounts to a closet; Red photographing a bedecked doorman that he takes to be an admiral, et al. There's also some funny lines-- Red commenting on the opening credits, which is unlike anything I've seen. But the overall impression is that, except for the climactic chase, the bits could have been worked easily into his TV show instead of awkwardly strung out into a movie.(In passing—Note in one segment the extensive housing project under construction. In short, it's suburban housing opening up like blossoms in LA's post-war sunshine. Can clogged freeways be far behind.)

When I was a kid I used to get a big kick out of movies like this. Red Skelton is owner of a camera store who is in debt. He pulls some shenanigans to make some money and achieves only more debt. Arlene Dahl, a rich land developer, takes pity on him and quietly sends enough customers to the store to relieve him and see that he has a considerable profit as well. He loses that too. But in the process of failing, he succeeds in saving himself, the store, Arlene Dahl, and the day.Now, as I watch this from my now ancient, creaking frame, I mostly find it just silly. The slapstick and goofy expressions that once provoked a storm of laughter now just elicits a wince.There's no point in detailing the story or its weaknesses. You can find similar gags -- often better gags -- in Laurel and Hardy shorts or on the situation comedies of today.I don't mean to bomb it entirely. All of us were once under fifteen, or still are, and that audience might still find it rewarding, although I can't be sure.

This film has some good sight gags and slapstick. Red is pleasant. Arlene Dahl (who co-starred with Red on 3 films in this time period) is pleasant, as well. So what's the problem? Well, an awfully weak script to begin with. Perhaps I'm wrong, but I'll put the blame on Jack Donohue, who directed a handful of films, but mostly went into television (including a number of Red's later t.v. shows)...which I learned after watching this film. And that is very telling, because I kept thinking this film needed a laugh track! And as we all know, that's a television trick not needed in a decent film.It seems to me that this film had some real potential. A somewhat down-in-the-luck photographer and photography store owner (Red) gets involved saving a wealthy socialite/real estate mogul (Dahl) from bankruptcy when the bad guys (chiefly Leon Ames) begin a swindle. But, it just never really takes off. Even with Red playing the lead character, and his father, and his grandfather. It almost seemed as if someone said, "We have all these bits. How can we string them together into a film?" No doubt there are some laughs here, including the scene at the doctor's office. And Red is funny. It's the script that poor. Still worth watching though, just for the joy of Red Skelton.

Only Red's many fans will enjoy "Watch the Birdie," one of Red Skelton's weaker movie comedies. "The Yellow Cab Man," released the same year (1950) is much better. To see classic Skelton, check out "A Southern Yankee," his most critically acclaimed feature, containing the famous scene of Red carrying a flag with bars and stars on one side and stars and stripes on the other so neither the Yankees or the Rebels will fire at him. Any of the "Whistling" pictures Red made during World War II are worth a look, in particular "Whistling in Brooklyn." All three have the added attraction of featuring one of the funniest men in the movies, Rags Ragland, who left us much too soon."Watch the Birdie" does contain some funny routines and several humorous situations, such as the wild chase at the end with Red and Arlene Dahl atop one of the craziest contraptions imaginable--a huge lumber lift vehicle. But much of the comedy is forced and some of it falls flat, especially the scene at the doctor's that takes place in a crowded dressing room. There are some hilarious lines delivered by Red with his usual skill, yet many are shopworn and stale.Though Red was a master of mimicry and impersonation, his portrayal of his own father and grandfather fails to gel with the story being told. The father character is just not funny. The grandfather ploy works much better, being presented as an octogenarian playboy with a young thing wrapped around him.Believe it or not, the funniest part of the movie is the opening credits. Red reads the names, making clever comments, such as: "These two girls fought over me. Ann Miller wanted me to marry Arlene Dahl and Arlene Dahl wanted me to marry Ann Miller." "We had four writers on this picture. Three could write. The other one was my wife's brother."The story has Red an unsuccessful operator of a camera shop owned by his father. While trying to make money to pay his bills and save his business by doing freelance filming on a boat, he is accidentally knocked overboard by heiress Lucia Corlane (Arlene Dahl). In attempting to make amends, she and Red fall for each other. Miss Corlane is determined to save Red's little shop providing him enough business to pay his debts. In the process, Red uncovers a plot by Miss Corlane's business manager, Grantland D. Farns (Leon Ames), and his unscrupulous accomplices to steal Corlane's money through manipulating a housing project of hers that is under construction. To aid Red, Corlane assigns him the task of taking pictures to promote the housing venture. Red unknowingly shoots film that contains incriminating evidence against Farns. Farns and his partners in crime are determined to snatch the film before it reaches the district attorney's office.Though not one of his best films, "Watch the Birdie" has enough humor and slapstick to keep fans entertained. It is always a delight to watch a truly funny man on the big screen. Red was adept at both physical and oral humor. If Red can't make you laugh, it's doubtful that anybody can.