beyondtheforest Norma Shearer's last film is a breezy romantic comedy directed with precision by Cukor and brought to life by a marvelous cast, including George Sanders and Robert Taylor, all pros in the romantic comedy department. The script is full of amusing observations on the complicated nature of power and pride in relationships. The sharp, witty lines uttered by Taylor and Sanders make for quite a few chuckles, as do the scenes of broad situational comedy, one of which has Taylor dangling off a balcony, and another involves Taylor and Shearer battling viciously one minute and caressing each other the next! Of course, it's all farce and not to be taken seriously, which probably made it seem dated at the time of release, but the theme is compelling and the finished product just plain fun. Shearer, in particular, gives a full-bodied comedic performance and has many funny moments. Never did she look more radiant and glamorous than she does here, ironically her final film, when it is clear she could have continued acting successfully for at least another decade!

Emaisie39 One of MGM's biggest stars from the silent 20's who easily transitioned into "the talkies" and became an even bigger star in the 30's and early 40's, Norma Shearer usually picked her films very carefully but this film was a big mistake. It is talky and boring and Norma is poorly photographed especially in the early scenes. A great actress who was capable of almost anything, Norma is done in by the script. Who can forget her marvelous "Marie Antoinette"(1938), the classic "The Women"(1939) or the unforgettable "Escape"(1940). Even her next to last film the delightful but neglected "We Were Dancing"(1942) shows her at her comedic peak but "Her Cardboard Lover" is just a dud.

drednm Norma Shearer plays a woman on the rebound from a bad love affair. She meets a man (Robert Taylor) who has been following her around a casino. He finally gets the nerve to talk to her and blurt out I LOVE YOU. She is, of course, repulsed. By chance he runs into a man (George Sanders) desperate to get a note to a woman. When Taylor hears who it is (Shearer) he offers to pass the note. Silly on a certain level, the the 3 stars are so good you forget the obvious machinations of the script and just watch 3 pros at work.Sanders still loves Shearer who might love Sanders but Taylor loves Shearer as she is interested. Forget the plot Taylor is a sing writer with Frank McHugh and Shearer is guarded over by maid Elizabeth Patterson. Lots of fun with many funny lines.For some reason this was a huge bomb when released in 1942 and it ended Norma Shearer's 22-year film career. It's not even a bad movie! She looks great and gives a lively and funny performance. Taylor is also in top form.Certainly worth a look

Matt-293 In this forgettable trifle, the 40-ish Norma Shearer plays a fluttery, girlish socialite in Monte Carlo, caught in a tussle between George Sanders and Robert Taylor. It would be tempting to blame this movie's failure on the dull, talky script, or director George Cukor, who never seems interested in livening up the film's generally comatose state. Mostly, though, it's the fault of Shearer herself, who desperately wanted to keep playing "young" parts as long as she could get away with it. Inadvertently, this makes "Her Cardboard Lover" a bizarre monument to an aging woman's vanity.