SincereFinest disgusting, overrated, pointless

Bergorks If you like to be scared, if you like to laugh, and if you like to learn a thing or two at the movies, this absolutely cannot be missed.

Calum Hutton It's a good bad... and worth a popcorn matinée. While it's easy to lament what could have been...

Tayyab Torres Strong acting helps the film overcome an uncertain premise and create characters that hold our attention absolutely.

SimonJack One other reviewer expressed the same sense about this film that I had. It seemed awfully stagy. And, I think with much more talkative roles, especially for Groucho. Now, I don't mind that except that I am used to the clever, witty comments and retorts, and then their moving on and mixing in with antics. This film does have antics, but nothing on the long-laugh producing craziness of "A Night at the Opera," and "A Day at the Races." I think what made their earliest films the best, was that they had screenplays in which each of the brothers was off doing his thing – the scenes would move from one to another; and then at times they would come together for real hilarity. In "Room Service," Groucho seems stuck in one spot as though he were caught in their room, and Chico and Harpo come and go with a moose head, a live turkey, etc. But, "Room Service" is a Marx Brothers comedy, and one worth seeing. I think Frank Albertson does a banner job as Leo Davis. Cliff Dunstan, who had a very short career in the movies, did a very good job as Joseph Gribble, the hotel manager and brother-in-law of Groucho's Gordon Miller. Donald MacBride gives one of the best performances in this film as the flustered hotel inspector-director, Gregory Wagner. It was nice to see Lucille Ball in this early role that had a little meat to it. Ball had been uncredited in 25 films and was in 4 shorts from 1933 to 1935 when she got her first credited role in "I Dream Too Much" She would be in another 20 films with bit parts, this one included, before she would get a lead role. From there it was all up hill for the crazy blonde, who was a very talented actress as well as a comedienne.

LeonLouisRicci Groucho and Chico Seem Off Their Game a Bit in this Mediocre Entry in the Marx Bros. Output of Always Entertaining Comedies. Harpo Comes Across Better but Still, its Not His A-Game. The Sight Gags are Amusing, but what is Lacking is the Intensity and Energy Usually Found when the Boys are Found in a Situation that They can Eviscerate Verbally as They are Demolishing Polite Society All Around Them.The Marxes Appear to be Running at Half Speed, there are Pregnant Pauses and Groucho is Absent or Half-Hearted with His Famous Retorts. Although this was a Very Successful Play that Ran for 500 Nights on Broadway, Most Marx Brothers Fans Wish it would have Stayed There.Still Worth a Watch, as are All Marx Bros. Movies, but this One is in the Bottom Tier. The Film Also Wastes Lucille Ball and Ann Miller who Contribute Very Little. Don't Know if it was an In-Joke or Not, but when Someone Says..."Excuse me while I go get washed up...Chico Replies..."Go ahead, we're already washed up.". But In Fact, They Might have Felt that Way in 1938, there were Still More Movies and Laughs to Come in Their Long Career.

SanteeFats Okay I really like some of the Marx Brothers movies and there are some I don't like so much. As you can see from summary I am not thrilled with this one. It is okay but I personally did not laugh to many times. The best I can say is tried, true, but cute. They do the usual routines, running around trying to pull off a play that has no financial backing, the cast of 22 free loading at the hotel along with the Brothers and a couple of others, and then there is the company man who has come out to straightened the hotel out and finds that they have run up a $1200 debt. They were allowed to get credit because the manager is Groucho's brother in law. Groucho's sister is played by Lucille Ball but her role has no humor in it, she just plays it straight.

gridoon2018 I think the best summation of "Room Service" in one sentence was done by Pauline Kael in her review: the play (that the script was based on) fits them (the Marx Bros.) like a straightjacket. In other words, instead of the plot serving as a mere stepping stone for the Marxes to unleash their surrealistic madness, they are in service of a plot that leaves them little room for improvisation. But the biggest problem with "Room Service" is the relative lack of truly memorable material: we have the frantic silent eating scene, the turkey hunt, Harpo's response to the doctor's "say ah", the occasional Groucho line ("He's the brains of the organization. And that should give you an idea of the organization"), and that's about it. The last 20 minutes are essentially one long joke (fake "dying") that eventually gets old. Harpo is the liveliest of the brothers here, and he comes off best; Ann Miller is incredibly sweet; Donald MacBride is so loud that you may have to turn down the volume during his scenes. "Room Service" is still worth seeing and even owning, like all Marx Brothers movies, but if you make a list of them it comes near the bottom. ** out of 4.