Performance & Direction: Asking for Trouble Review
Last updated: February 24, 2026
Quick Verdict: Hit or Flop?
Is Asking for Trouble (1942) worth watching? According to our cinematic analysis, the film stands as a ABOVE AVERAGE with a verified audience rating of 6.0/10. Whether you're looking for the box office collection, ending explained, or parents guide, our review covers everything you need to know about this Drama.
Cast Performances: A Masterclass
The success of any Drama is often anchored by its ensemble, and Asking for Trouble features a noteworthy lineup led by Max Miller . Supported by the likes of Carole Lynne and Mark Lester , the performances bring a palpable realism to the scripted words.
Performance Analysis: While the cast delivers competent and professional performances, they are occasionally hampered by a script that leans into familiar archetypes.
Final Verdict: Is it Worth Watching?
Story & Plot Summary: Asking for Trouble
Quick Plot Summary: Released in 1942, Asking for Trouble is a Drama, Comedy film directed by Oswald Mitchell. The narrative explores complex human emotions and relationships through detailed character development. This summary provides a scannable look at the movie's central conflict involving Max Miller.
Ending Explained: Asking for Trouble
Ending Breakdown: Directed by Oswald Mitchell, Asking for Trouble concludes its story with a mix of closure and open interpretation. The finale presents its approach to drama resolution.
The emotional climax centers on character transformation involving Max Miller, offering viewers material for post-viewing discussion.
Ending Analysis:
- Narrative Resolution: The story concludes by addressing its primary narrative threads, providing closure while maintaining some ambiguity.
- Character Arcs: Character journeys reach their narrative endpoints, reflecting the film's thematic priorities.
- Thematic Payoff: The ending reinforces the drama themes established throughout the runtime.
The final moments of Asking for Trouble reflect the filmmakers' creative choices, offering an ending that aligns with the film's tone and style.
Who Should Watch Asking for Trouble?
Worth Watching If You:
- Enjoy Drama films and don't mind familiar tropes
- Are a fan of Max Miller or the director
- Want a character-driven story with emotional moments
Top Cast: Asking for Trouble
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Asking for Trouble Parents Guide & Age Rating
1942 AdvisoryWondering about Asking for Trouble age rating or if it's safe for kids? Here is our cinematic advisory:
⏱️ Runtime & Duration
The total runtime of Asking for Trouble is 81 minutes (1h 21m). Ensuring you have enough time for the full cinematic experience.
Verdict Summary
Analyzing the overall audience sentiment, verified rating of 6.0/10, and global performance metrics, Asking for Trouble is classified as a ABOVE AVERAGE. It remains an essential part of the 1942 cinematic calendar.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Asking for Trouble worth watching?
Asking for Trouble is definitely worth watching if you enjoy Drama movies. It has a verified rating of 6/10 and stands as a ABOVE AVERAGE in our box office analysis.
Where can I find Asking for Trouble parents guide and age rating?
The official parents guide for Asking for Trouble identifies it as Not Rated. Our detailed advisory section above covers all content warnings for families.
What is the total runtime of Asking for Trouble?
The total duration of Asking for Trouble is 81 minutes, which is approximately 1h 21m long.
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Critic Reviews for Asking for Trouble
It is probably rather unfair to try and evaluate Max Miller's performance in this wartime effort now. His relentless delivery, straight from the British music-halls, offers us a torrent of quick witted quips that all to often simply overwhelm the story - and leave the audience gasping for breath! There is no doubting, though, that his humour offered a breath of fresh air in this daft story of a struggling fishmonger who runs an illegal book on the side. To keep it interesting, he decides to try and help Carol Lynne ("Jane") to avoid an unwanted marriage by donning his best "Alan Quatermain" hat and pretending to be her big game hunter fiancée - with ominously silly results. It's just too long - even Miller can't sustain the intensity of his dialogue for 80 minutes, and the frequently pithy writing from auteur Oswald Mitchell starts to border on the preposterous a bit too quickly. Fortunately, iIt's got a couple of welcome stabilising contributions from Wilfred Hyde-White as the rather acerbic butler to the troubled damsel's father "General Smythe" (Mark Lester) to help out too. It's fun, fast and furious... just a bit feeble nowadays.
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This review has been verified for accuracy and editorial quality by our senior cinematic analysts.
This analysis is compiled by our editorial experts using multi-source verification and audience sentiment data for maximum accuracy.








