review for Andy Hardy Meets Debutante on AllMovie

Andy Hardy Meets Debutante will please those folks who are fans of the Andy Hardy series of films; those who are not inclined toward the series may find less to like, but even they may find Debutante a fairly pleasant way to pass the time. One of Debutante's assets is definitely the presence of Judy Garland, who appeared in three of the films in the series. Garland is in delicious vocal form here, delivering a great "Alone" and a "I'm Nobody's Baby" that simply knocks the socks off. Garland also shares a special chemistry with series star Mickey Rooney, so her presence means that Rooney also is shown to better effect. Of course, Debutante does have a script that will strike modern viewers are corny and preachy and is filled with set-ups that are blatantly manipulative. But there's some winning humor, a definite sweetness, and a gentleness to the picture that many will find quite appealing. Lewis Stone is fine as always as the patient father, and Ann Rutehrford and Diana Lewis do well as the women in Rooney's life.