While it would be stretching things considerably to call Callaway Went Thataway a classic comedy, this amiable little film does have a certain undeniable appeal, the source of which is a little hard to pin down. For example, the Melvin Frank-Norman Panama screenplay is just about as predictable as it can be, with very few surprises or unexpected detours. Yet this somehow is less irritating that in many other films, perhaps because Frank and Panama provide enough giggles and chuckles (and even a few outright laughs) to keep the viewer decently entertained. The writers/directors also keep the film moving at a steady clip, never dwelling too long on any sequence or letting the movie overstay its welcome. Aided by their cast, they also invest Callaway with a decent amount of charm. And they pull a truly amusing performance from Howard Keel, who in many of his other films comes across as much too stiff. Fred MacMurray and Dorothy McGuire are also in good form, and the large supporting cast (which includes several star cameos) is also a plus. While Callaway Went Thataway is too modest a film to ever be more than a "little picture," it's an agreeable and inviting one.
