Plot Summary - Judge Hardy (Lewis Stone) is busy in court with a case of this bitter and bickering divorced couple who are parents of a high school aged daughter Melodie (Donna Reed), caught in the middle. Andy Hardy (Mickey Rooney) is out of school now and working at a local garage where he is trying to start up his own towing business. His tow-truck isn't in the greatest of shape and Andy ends up in a mix-up while towing a sedan - now accused of stealing it! Judge and son make an exchange - the judge will help Andy with his latest legal trouble if Andy will ask poor, troubled, unsociable Melodie out on a date to help brighten her so-called drab life. Andy considers her "droopy" and a bore - a bit of a "sad apple" as he calls her - but asks her to the school alumni dance. Unfortunately for her, she's considered too out-of-style for Andy or the male stag line (Andy has to bribe all but one of these guys to "break" in). Melodie hasn't been out much and falls for Andy, invites Andy to the upcoming "Spinster's Skip", gives herself a makeover, and arrives at the dance looking like a gorgeous and stylish glamour girl, making the guys now want to pay Andy to dance with her! Side story involves sis Marian, just back home from living in NYC, now sophisticated in short skirt - with plans to wear her new nightgown as an evening dress, causing the family some grief.
Review - Well this is yet another entertaining and fun film in the Andy Hardy series. One thought - okay, Melodie is played by a very young and beautiful Donna Reed (not much is done to hide her beauty either) and it struck me as extremely unrealistic that the fellows all refuse to dance with her just 'cause she's not wearing the latest dress and hairstyle (and unless you know a lot about fashions of 1942, even that's sort of hard to detect watching this now)! This film includes a lot of the latest 40s slang and, as usual, parents and kids clashing over new ideas and the old-fashioned way. Line from Andy to Marian "It's not your fault God made women's brains lighter than men's". Okey Dokey, Andy. Rating - 7.5/10 stars
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