This is a wonderful example of Cary Grant at his screwball comic best, playing one half of a sniping, divorcing couple who trade insults like gunfire and seek to spoil each other's future plans.

| Original Score: 5/5 | May 30, 2024

It is quite grown up, and even the hotter passions are endured with consideration and suavity; at the same time it has an innocent zest for the homely that makes you think back to Capra again.

| May 7, 2024

Among the many things to love about The Awful Truth is that it never takes it easy on the protagonists. Many romances are simply aching to get their lovers together, for good reason, but because of this, they take shortcuts to make the audience happy.

| Feb 20, 2024

All of the pieces function on their own but they never add up to anything great. Grant and Dunne are mismatched as a romantic pair, to be quite frank...

| Feb 1, 2023

Merely one of the greatest comedies ever made.

| Original Score: 4/4 | Aug 29, 2021

It's so outrageously funny that the bitterness never sets in, marking this as one of the most lighthearted bouts of mudslinging in screwball comedy history.

| Original Score: 9/10 | Jul 24, 2020

A wonderfully smooth blend of lively acting, bright dialogue, witty direction and hearty slapstick.

| Jul 19, 2019

They are so captivating that without realizing it we willingly put ourselves in the position of a dog choosing between masters.

| Nov 27, 2018

Historically, The Awful Truth is probably most significant as the film that secured Grant's star, forcing him to adopt his famously relaxed persona through McCarey's improvisational approach to filming.

| Original Score: 3/5 | Apr 23, 2018

This is Grant's first truly remarkable performance, morphing a romantic leading man into a suave, impish clown.

| Apr 12, 2018

A joy.

| May 27, 2008

Leo McCarey's largely improvised 1937 film is one of the funniest of the screwball comedies, and also one of the most serious at heart.

| May 27, 2008

...has earned its reputation as one of the most effective screwball comedies from the 1930s.

| Original Score: 3/4 | Apr 10, 2007

One of the best screwball comedies (of remarriage) ever made, based on the astute mise-en-scene of director Leo McCarey (who won an Oscar) and superb turns from Cary Grant and Irene Dunne as the sparrying partners.

| Original Score: A | Nov 9, 2006

Zappy, sophisticated screwball comedy with Grant and Dunne displaying perfect timing.

| Jun 24, 2006

The look of love [Grant] gives co-star Irene Dunne, captured not in a close-up but a medium-wide shot, could melt anyone.

| Original Score: 3.5/5 | Feb 17, 2006

One should be rooting for Cary Grant to get the girl, which means he ought to deserve her — and if that's more or less the case here, well, it's only because the girl turns out to be no great shakes either.

| Original Score: C+ | Feb 10, 2006

A smart screwball comedy from the 1930s that's given the Lubitsch touch by director Leo McCarey.

| Original Score: B+ | Jan 7, 2006

Its sophistication convinced the Academy that it was more than "just" a comedy and they awarded McCarey the Best Director Oscar

| Dec 6, 2005

Among the finest of the screwball "comedies of remarriage," The Awful Truth showcases Grant and Dunne at their most winning.

Full Review | Original Score: 5/5 | May 3, 2005