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Blondie's Anniversary

1947

2.5/5

I actually found this one to be more enjoyable than many of the others in this series, especially the last few. The story, while ridiculous, does put the characters in interesting situations and in much more peril than we've seen them be in before.

This time, Dagwood loses his job because he forgets his anniversary. His boss is bidding on a hospital building contract, and is stricken with the attractive secretary of the man financing it, who happens to be Mr. Breckinbridge from two movies ago. He decides that to get in good with Mr. Breckinbridge, and the secretary, he'll buy her an expensive watch. Dagwood is supposed to deliver it to her, but Blondie finds it and thinks it's her anniversary present. Dagwood borrows money from a loan shark to get an imitation watch at a pawn shop to give to the secretary, but the watch falls apart shortly after he delivers it. Dagwood is promptly fired, but finds employment at the rival construction company. He discovers that they plan to use inferior materials for building the hospital, but after confronting his new employers is gagged and has his feet encased in cement. He escapes with the "help" of the loan shark, tells Mr. Breckinbridge everything, gets his old job back, and is spared from having to pay back the ridiculous amount of interest by Mr. Breckinbridge threatening to call the police on the loan shark.

Dagwood and Blondie are as dull as ever, but the supporting cast makes up for it somewhat. The men from the rival construction company are sufficiently creepy and hucksterish, the secretary's two-timing is predictable but not uninteresting, and the loan shark (who I believe is literally named Sharkie) is also pretty fun.

The cliche of Dagwood losing his job and getting it back (always with a raise) continues on in this one, but some of the cliches from the earlier films haven't been seen in quite a while. Dagwood and Blondie haven't had a near divorce in forever, and Dagwood hasn't punched or even swung at anyone in a while either, though both used to happen in every movie. I mean, having a more stable marriage and being less violent aren't necessarily bad, though it does make for a less interesting movie.