Is Move Over, Darling Worth Watching? Honest Movie Review & Audience Verdict (1963)

📖 The Core Premise

Move Over, Darling returns to the screen in 1963, bringing a fresh narrative to the Comedy, Romance genre. At its heart, the film explores complex themes wrapped in a compelling storyline. As the plot unfolds, we see characters navigating a world where stakes are high. "Three years into their loving marriage, with two infant daughters at home in Los Angeles, Nicholas Arden and Ellen Wagstaff Arden are on a plane that goes down in the South Pacific. Although most passengers manage to survive the incident, Ellen presumably perishes when swept off her lifeboat, her body never recovered. Fast forward five years. Nicholas, wanting to move on with his life, has Ellen declared legally dead. Part of that moving on includes getting remarried, this time to a young woman named Bianca Steele, who, for their honeymoon, he plans to take to the same Monterrey resort where he and Ellen spent their honeymoon. On that very same day, Ellen is dropped off in Los Angeles by the Navy, who rescued her from the South Pacific island where she was stranded for the past five years. She asks the Navy not to publicize her rescue nor notify Nicholas as she wants to do so herself."

🎬 Performance & Direction

A movie's success often hinges on its execution. While not a career-best, Doris Day's presence adds a necessary stability to the proceedings. The direction aims to balance pacing with character development, a hallmark of good Comedy. While there are moments of brilliance, the pacing occasionally dips.

🤔 Why You Should Watch (or Skip)

Is Move Over, Darling worth your time? If you appreciate Comedy, Romance films that take risks, this is likely a must-watch. However, if you are looking for a flawless masterpiece, you might find some plot points predictable.

🏆 Final Verdict

Ultimately, Move Over, Darling is a mixed bag with some redeeming qualities. With a runtime of 103 minutes, it asks for a significant time investment, but for the right audience, it pays off.

Our recommendation: Watch on OTT.