There are few movies that you can call charming and it just so happens that this one happens to find itself in that very rare company. There is romance, drama and humour within this picture and it all blends together seamlessly to create that perfect, feel-good viewing experience. This is the kind of film that you would put on if you wanted to turn your frown upside down and it does so with a great cast of characters, steady direction from Edmund Goulding and a wondeful script by Nunnally Johnson.

We’re Not Married finds a newly elected justice of the peace in Victor Moore in high demand to perform some marriages during Christmas. Of course he obliges, though he is a little absent-minded and he marries six couples in all. A problem rears its head though a couple of years later as these couples are soon made to realize that they are not really married at all due to a mistake on Moore’s part. So it is that after they are informed that comedy, for the most part, ensues.

We’re Not Married featured many famous actors of the time, whereas now, the biggest draw would be Marilyn Monroe. In her skit she is a beauty pageant contestant and while it is fun to see Monroe in one of her earlier appearances, many of the other sequences, two in particular, far outshines her own. One couple starring Paul Douglas and Eve Arden is decent, as is another featuring Eddie Bracken and Mitzi Gaynor, but in the end, much like Monroe, while their stories are good, they are not as good as the remaining two. Those two scenes that really stand out involve Fed Allen and Ginger Rogers as a married couple who are co-headlining radio hosts and Zsa Zsa Gabor as a gold-digger after Louis Calhern’s fortunes. Rogers and Allen are genius together and their comedic timing could not be any better. Allen is a natural at comedy which has been proven many times over throughout the years and Rogers was just as good whenever she was paired up with a great partner. The best actor in the whole film arguably though was Calhern who gave a subtle, yet witty performance as the aging millionaire who would find out that his young wife was not actually in love with him, just his money.  Seeing him receive the notice about the marriage and then proceeding to trick his wife was simply hilarious.

Lasting nearly eighty-five minutes, you never noticed the time nor were you ever wondering when the film would be over. It was quite the opposite in fact, as the film was so enchanting in its light humour and drama that it was a pure joy to watch. While not necessarily a Monroe vehicle, it is often touted as one but at the end of the day, it is a fantastic, all-around romantic comedy filled with many great actors and many great moments. We’re Not Married is definitely recommended for any that enjoy good, solid storytelling with smart direction and smarter writing.

4.5 out of 5