The plot isn't so bad, but the pace of storytelling is too slow which makes people bored. Certain moments are so obvious and unnecessary for the main plot. I would've fast-forwarded those moments if it was an online streaming. The ending looks like implying a sequel, not sure if this movie will get one

Excellent and certainly provocative... If nothing else, the film is a real conversation starter.

It’s fine. It's literally the definition of a fine movie. You’ve seen it before, you know every beat and outcome before the characters even do. Only question is how much escapism you’re looking for.

An old-fashioned movie made with new-fashioned finesse.

It's the Wilson Wonder Circus run by Jeff Wilson. His girlfriend Julie Randall sings and performs with her dancing horse. John Carter is recalling the $10k loan early. Wilson assures him that he is ready to pay despite his aunt Mrs. Susanna Dukesbury disinheriting him. Wilson's loyal worker Tony Pirelli (Chico Marx) fears the scheming Carter and sends a telegraph to attorney J. Cheever Loophole (Groucho Marx). They are joined by Punchy (Harpo Marx) and his seal. Carter recruits circus strongman Goliath and midget Little Professor Atom to steal Wilson's money so that he can steal the circus.The Marx brothers continue to be the Marx brother. It's got all of their humor and vaudevillian act. Groucho walks upside down although that could have been funnier. There is some animal work and Harpo riding an ostrich is kind of fun. It's the circus but they fail use that to its maximum until the last flourish. There should be more of that throughout the movie. There should be knife throwing and clowns. Did I miss the clowns? The possibilities are so great and yet they failed to use it all. This is fine for Marx fans but it's lesser Marx nevertheless.

Imagine. Bad songs written by the "Wizard of Oz" songwriters. Too much music! Very cliché, even for The Marx. Bros! Lowlights: mostly the music. Chico's piano solo and a very "racist" swing number, easily "deleted" even with Harpo's harp! Curiously, about 10 minutes of actual "circus", or so it seems. Worst makeup ever on the midget and strongman (fake mustaches and wigs). Contrived plot involving stolen money, and of course the circus will fold if it isn't found. The usual "highjinks" with Margaret Dumont and Groucho. Best scenes involve the boys and the whole thing "stinks" when they are not around. Several "highlights" make it watchable: Eve Arden as gorgeous "Peerless Pauline" walks on the ceiling with Groucho. The famous "Lydia the Tattooed Lady" song. Lion, monkey and gorilla jokes. Chico and Groucho look for the stolen $10,000 and destroy the strongman's sleeping room on the train. The last 10 minutes is sheer madness. "Goliath" the gorilla chasing the crook and everybody else up the flying trapezes and Margarent Dumont shot out of a cannon! The gorilla (played by Charles Gemora) is fantastic. He counts the money at the end like a bank teller. Look for Friz Feld as the snooty French conductor. He is best known for playing "the French waiter" in countless films, over the years!

After 30 years, I just rewatched this latter-day Marx Brothers movie. After being loaned to RKO for Room Service, the Marxes return to M-G-M without their beloved mentor there, Irving Thalberg, having died during their last hit picture there, A Day at the Races. That movie was very enjoyable, if a little long. This one is much shorter, if not as funny. Still, there's more than enough highlights here: a couple of Chico and Groucho scenes like the "need-a-badge-to-get-on-train" and "new-cigar-needed-but-from-suspect-not-Chico", Groucho's number of "Lydia the Tattooed Lady", Harpo's number with some cool black singers mixed with his as-always touching harp solos, Chico's piano playing, and, of course, Groucho's wisecracks with Margaret Dumont, the unofficial fourth Marx brother now that Zeppo left by this time. Oh, and funny enough reunion with Nat Pendleton from Horse Feathers. Also, Fritz Feld has an amusing bit as a symphony conductor. The romantic leads of Kenny Baker, who I know from old broadcasts of radio's "The Jack Benny Program", and Florence Rice don't intrude too much so I didn't mind them or their singing. Oh, and Eve Arden was also a hoot opposite the one and only Groucho. So on that note, At the Circus is worth a look for any Marx fans out there, still.

Most Marx Brothers fans agree that their best film moments can be found in their 1929-1937 period, and that their career went a bit downhill after that, starting with "Room Service". Generally, I also agree with that opinion, though there are definitely many worthwhile moments in their last six films as well. And from those six, "At The Circus" is arguably the best (the only other possible contender is "A Night In Casablanca"). Although it suffers from the same flaws that plagued their other films of the period - mainly long, redundant (and, in at least two cases, even repeated (!)) musical numbers, and a frantic climax that is more chaotic than funny - it also gives them some good material (the badge skit, the reconstruction of the crime, the "entrapment" of the midget, etc.) and has a more energetic air than, say, "Room Service" or "The Big Store". Their frequent co-start Margaret Dumont doesn't appear until about an hour in; the two romantic leads are largely forgettable, but long-legged Eve Arden is notable for doing some of her acrobatic stunts herself. **1/2 out of 4.