Love Laughs at Andy Hardy has a silly sounding title, but it's an extremely important movie, and for many reasons. It was the first movie Mickey Rooney made after returning home from his time in the army, the last Andy Hardy movie for twelve years, and the last movie to include Lewis Stone. In the final movie of the series, Lewis had already passed away, and it's rather sad to see the family without him. For all intents and purposes, this one is the last in the series, since the series started out centered on the judge and how he fixes his family's problems.
The movie starts with Lewis Stone and Fay Holden preparing for Mickey's return to the house. He's sent a telegram that his military service is over, but Fay doesn't understand the wording and worries that he's eloped. Lewis has to calm her down, but Fay doesn't stop worrying throughout the movie. After all, he's her little boy, and he's made it home safe and sound from the army! Mickey's been given a wonderful welcome back scene, both to his onscreen family and to the people in the audience. It's very touching, and everyone's very emotional, perhaps realizing that there was always the possibility that Mickey Rooney would sacrifice himself for his country and this movie would never have been made.
Upon his return home from the army, Mickey is a little distracted. He's not his usual hormone-crazed teenager, and much to Fay's dismay, he's been seen looking at bassinets and wedding tuxedos in shop windows. Turns out, he's fallen in love with Bonita Granville from college-whom you might remember from the previous movie-and is hoping to propose marriage now that he's back from the war. She might not reciprocate his feelings, and not every war hero has a woman waiting for him with open arms. Love may laugh at Andy Hardy, but nobody else will. This is a very serious volume of the Andy Hardy series, and a very fitting end to all fourteen consecutive stories. You can rent the very final one if you want to, but I'm happy with this one.
The movie starts with Lewis Stone and Fay Holden preparing for Mickey's return to the house. He's sent a telegram that his military service is over, but Fay doesn't understand the wording and worries that he's eloped. Lewis has to calm her down, but Fay doesn't stop worrying throughout the movie. After all, he's her little boy, and he's made it home safe and sound from the army! Mickey's been given a wonderful welcome back scene, both to his onscreen family and to the people in the audience. It's very touching, and everyone's very emotional, perhaps realizing that there was always the possibility that Mickey Rooney would sacrifice himself for his country and this movie would never have been made.
Upon his return home from the army, Mickey is a little distracted. He's not his usual hormone-crazed teenager, and much to Fay's dismay, he's been seen looking at bassinets and wedding tuxedos in shop windows. Turns out, he's fallen in love with Bonita Granville from college-whom you might remember from the previous movie-and is hoping to propose marriage now that he's back from the war. She might not reciprocate his feelings, and not every war hero has a woman waiting for him with open arms. Love may laugh at Andy Hardy, but nobody else will. This is a very serious volume of the Andy Hardy series, and a very fitting end to all fourteen consecutive stories. You can rent the very final one if you want to, but I'm happy with this one.