AllMovie

Overall, Laugh and Get Rich is a mild little comedy that comes out okay but not outstanding. But that average belies the fact that Laugh has on its asset side the considerable talents of Edna May Oliver and Hugh Herbert. Two of the era's finest character actors, Oliver and Herbert each brings a clearly defined persona to their films, along with comedic skill that can't be overvalued. Oliver, for whom the phrase "hatchet-faced" was created, is a no-nonsense, supremely confident type who nevertheless has a vulnerable side and plenty of heart buried beneath her "by the rulebook" manner. Herbert is a bit manic (though more restrained than usual in Laugh), and a wonderful foil for Oliver. Together, the two create comedy in Laugh that wouldn't otherwise be there, for the screenplay is a woefully underfed little affair that depends far more on its cast for laughs than on its own wit. Gregory La Cava's direction is assured, which helps, but it's really the fun of being around the cast that makes Laugh worth watching.