Question: How does a New York City gal fit in out in the country as a new bride? Response: I don't know. Is this Barbara Stanwyck in "The Purchase Price", Merle Oberon in "The Cowboy and the Lady", Claudette Colbert in "The Egg and I" or Eva Gabor on "Green Acres"? Real Answer: Well, in this case, it's Irene Dunne in "Never a Dull Moment" where she is ironically wed to Fred MacMurray who did basically the same thin in "The Egg and I". Instead of a chicken farmer here, though, he is a rodeo performer, and she is a Broadway songwriter. The predicament is pretty much the same for Dunne as it was for Colbert, except for the fact that MacMurray has two young daughters (Gigi Perreau and Natalie Wood) who are at first suspicious of her but are won over when she gives them designer watches as "Hi, I'm your new step-mommy dearest" presents. Then, there's the gossipy neighbors on party lines, an overweight Indian cook who practically drowns herself in Dunne's perfume while trying to fit into Dunne's dresses, and the grouchy rancher (William Demarest) keeping his water supply all to himself and anxious to buy MacMurray's property himself. When he is humiliated at Dunne's opening night party, you know he's going to be doing all he can to get them out, but Dunne has a trick or two up her gingham sleeve.
One very funny scene has Dunne fighting practically every kind of disaster (including the wind which threatens to tear down the house) all at once. MacMurray is pretty much overshadowed by Dunne who dominates pretty much the entire movie. She is still youthful enough here to do pratfalls, sing a square dance and remain glamorous as she figures out how to close a swinging gate surrounded by mud without getting filthy herself. To think the same year she played Queen Victoria in "The Mudlark" shows her versatility, but unfortunately, she was on the verge of permanently ending her film career. Perreau and Wood start off in dangerous territory as they appear to be hateful brats, but fortunately, the writers changed course quickly. The results of all of this is a watchable but formula comedy that has some unique moments but basically suffers from familiarity.
One very funny scene has Dunne fighting practically every kind of disaster (including the wind which threatens to tear down the house) all at once. MacMurray is pretty much overshadowed by Dunne who dominates pretty much the entire movie. She is still youthful enough here to do pratfalls, sing a square dance and remain glamorous as she figures out how to close a swinging gate surrounded by mud without getting filthy herself. To think the same year she played Queen Victoria in "The Mudlark" shows her versatility, but unfortunately, she was on the verge of permanently ending her film career. Perreau and Wood start off in dangerous territory as they appear to be hateful brats, but fortunately, the writers changed course quickly. The results of all of this is a watchable but formula comedy that has some unique moments but basically suffers from familiarity.