Yankee Doodle Dandy1942

Honey, I Shrunk The Watchlist 26 of 35 - Watch the movie you have been anticipating watching most 👁️👁️ I'm a Yankee Doodle dandy A Yankee Doodle, do or die A real live nephew of my Uncle Sam Born on the Fourth of July I've got a Yankee Doodle sweetheart She's my Yankee Doodle joy Yankee Doodle came to London Just to ride the ponies I am the Yankee Doodle boy There are people, sometimes myself included, who have a hard time celebrating the history of this country. A history that is incredibly complicated and not at all a very happy one for very many people. To that I say then that we should celebrate those individuals who through art have made this country and the world a better place and celebrated our country in their own way.  So here we have James Cagney, an American icon and song-and-dance man in his own right as George M. Cohan “The Man Who Owned Broadway.” Cohan is responsible for many classic songs such as “Over There,” “Give My Regards to Broadway,” “You’re a Grand Old Rag,” and of course “The Yankee Doodle Boy.”  And how do we tell the story of an American legend? By making a morale film. Or a propaganda film, as everyone here calls any film that says anything positive about any given country. And seeing as it’s 1942, it makes sense that we would get a film to boost patriotism and American sentiment. So much of the religion of America stems from WWII and its depiction of American history and its own events.  What does that mean for this movie? Well, it’s kind of a wash. Cagney is incredible, and despite being given quite a look into Cohan’s life, it still feels rather shallow. I have actually seen Cagney play Mr. George M. Cohan countless times in another film, The Seven Little Foys. And his brief appearance there seems to convey as much of the character as this entire film. And yet it is still enjoyable.  Watching Cagney dance is a delight, and I believe his performance is based heavily on Cohan’s, but I have never seen anyone dance that way. So stiff and yet so fluid. Like a spring bounces across the stage with so much energy begging to get out.  There are great musical numbers, but I really want more than a Cliff Notes version of Cohan’s life. It feels especially Hollywoodized, and I’m somewhat surprised Cagney got the Oscar for this.  I feel like I’m being a little overly critical. I did enjoy this, and the movie made me laugh at points. I enjoyed many of the musical numbers, and overall, the movie is decent. I just feel like it was missing something. I don’t know if watching it again would make me feel better or worse.  Honestly, I think some of my problem comes from watching the Seven Little Foys. A similar film about a similar person at a similar time. And yet, Eddie Foy is so much more interesting as he’s kind of the villain of the film. While still fun, he’s allowed not to be likable, whereas here Cohan is this golden child who’s never done anything wrong in his whole life. Even when things are hard, they immediately work out. When there are things that are his fault, the movie laughs it off and moves on. And maybe this is to sell some sort of idea of the American dream, where anyone can come from nothing and become one of the biggest stars in America. Except he still was privileged in many ways.   I guess I like this movie better as a time capsule of a now-forgotten time than I like it as a biopic. I can see watching it again for the musical numbers, but I don’t think it will ever be a true favorite.