The film Monkey Business is standard comedy fare. It goes to above average, with the presence of Cary Grant. He was adept at comedy. It was how he started in the business. He keeps the movie going with his antics, as Dr. Barnaby Fulton. He accidentally, discovers a youth formula. The formula is a mixture of chemicals, put together, by his laboratory chimpanzee.
Dr. Fulton is a brilliant man, who needs guidance with simple things. These things are making sure the lights are off, and the door is locked, when leaving his home. Fulton’s guiding force is his wife, Edwina, played by Ginger Rogers. Ms. Rogers is a good actress, but is not able to keep up the pace, with Cary Grant. She does have a good scene, when she thinks a toddler is her husband. This is because she thinks his formula worked too well.
Cary Grant does his best with this film. He is funny, when his character, takes a dose of his formula. He becomes young in body and spirit. He even goes as far as getting a radical haircut, and buying a sports car. He takes the office secretary, Miss Lois Laurel, (Marilyn Monroe), for a ride. It ends with the doctor, running into a truck. Marilyn Monroe doesn’t do much in the movie; but like most of her film roles, she brightens the movie. She does have an innocent flirting scene with Dr. Fulton. She pulls up her skirt, and shows him the stocking he invented, telling him how much she likes it.
Mrs. Fulton, not wanting to be left out, also tries the formula. It reverts her to childhood. She cries and carries on. She even says she should have married a suitor, Hank Entwhistle, (Hugh Marlowe). Barnaby Fulton, having another dose, manages to get involved in a children’s game. He gets Hank Entwistle tied up, and gives him a very non conformist haircut.
Dr. Fulton’s employer, Mr. Oliver Oxley, (Charles Coburn), wants the secret to the formula. He offers Barnaby a small fortune, but to no avail. It is a secret that can’t be duplicated. It is funny to watch Mr. Oxley, trying to negotiate with the child like chemist. It is even more amusing when the chimpanzee, climbs the chandelier, and throws lightbulbs at Oxley and his board of directors.
Cary Grant, by the time of this film, was a solid professional. He didn’t need much instruction from Howard Hawks. He had worked previously for Hawks, and this film is watchable mainly because of Grant. Howard Hawks and Cary Grant had previously worked together. Hawks would step out of his comfort zone, the following year, directing Marilyn Monroe in Gentlemen Prefer Blondes.
Monkey Business is in a sense, a comedic version, of Dr Jekyll and Mr. Hyde. It showing people letting loose, and no real harm done. Unlike the previously mention film, this did not have other film versions. That is a good thing. Who could ever replace Cary Grant?