Uggghhh! Considering this was a Hal Roach production (the same genius responsible for pairing Laurel with Hardy and creating Harold Lloyd and Charley Chase), this SHOULD have been a lot better and at least funny! Instead, it's a film full of very broad and tired-looking situations. Anchoring this film is Zasu Pitts. Her humor is often pretty grating and unfunny, though she is an excellent supporting actress. Placing her at the center of all this was not, in hindsight, a good idea. And the humor seemed catered to a very undemanding audience (such as kids and those who thought I DREAM OF JEANIE was a great show), so there was no subtlety or finesse to the script, direction or performances. For example, the behaviors of Pitts after she drank the "magic tonic" was just awful and uninspired.
All this is a real shame, as the film began very well and COULD have been good. In a fictional small town, a large group of nasty old prunes have seized control of the government and have determined to eliminate ANYTHING that smacks of fun!! Believe me, I have known people just like this and taking jabs at these "holier-than-thou" hypocrites is a great idea. Too bad the execution left so much to be desired.