AllMovie

Once Upon a Honeymoon is definitely an interesting picture, and one that may provoke quite varying responses among viewers. No one is likely to really go to bat for it and call it a really good film, but some viewers will find individual moments rewarding enough to stick up for it as quite good in parts and better than average overall. Indeed, there are plenty of moments when Cary Grant and Ginger Rogers display a lovely chemistry that do work quite well, or when Walter Slezak's performance inspires admiration. And the supporting cast turns in very fine work. But those who don't hold Honeymoon in particularly high regard can point to the erratic tone in its direction; the manner in which the screenplay tries to mix screwball comedy, romance, and spy thriller elements, and totally botches the job; and some truly tasteless sequences, including the "mistaken Jewish identity" sequence that sees the stars put in a concentration camp. Basically, it comes down to a "you pays your money, you takes your choice" kind of situation. But even so, Honeymoon is worth watching, if only to see how much director Leo McCarey and his collaborators wanted to try to accomplish, and how far they fell of their goal.