It's difficult to put my finger on what makes an Ernst Lubitsch film so endearing, charming and memorable than most other films from their era, but if I had to guess it would probably be their overwhelming sense of freedom in the face of tyranny. Films like "To Be or Not to Be" and "The Shop Around the Corner" best exemplify this, but Lubtisch's "Ninotchka" is a good example as well. The film is filled with witty dialogue, exaggerated characters and a grand view of the world that is both heartwarming and thought-provoking. This is certainly best shown through the titular character, played by Greta Garbo, as a Russian sergeant focused soley on efficiency for the sake of her country, while she slowly but surely falls in love with Paris. Given her strict, no nonsense demeanor, I thought this would be an unlikable character, but the way she bounces off the other characters and Garbo's authentic performance, she is the best part of the movie. As far as Lubitsch films go, this isn't his best, but it still has that same charm that only he could supply.
Final Grade: B-
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