Radioland Murders is one of my favorite movies to put in when I’ve had a hard week and want to go brain-dead with something familiar. My love of Old-Time Radio probably spurs this on because the movie is set there with love by George Lucas and his people.

I’m too young to have been around for OTR (as it’s referred to these days), but I learned to love it all the same. The Shadow, The Lone Ranger, The Green Hornet, and dozens of other shows that later became movies and television series came out of those years.

I still listen to episodes in my car and get carried away by Humphrey Bogart and Lauren Bacall in Bold Venture. There’s just something magical about radio because you have to create so much of the world and the characters in your mind.

That’s the way it is with this movie. It’s got the rapid-fire dialogue and insane pacing of a radio show. There’s no spare meat on the story, and throw-away lines are used over and over again to tie the events together. Even old jokes that are groaners materialize on the sets and it’s marvelous to see them carried out again.

The conceit of the story is that a series of murders are committed on the opening night of a brand-new radio station, WBN, in 1939. A husband and wife whose relationship is struggling because of a possible infidelity is caught in the crossfire.

Brian Benben plays Roger, the head writer for the studio, and delivers a great performance. His walk, his mannerism, his wild-eyed stares, and even his delivery were rooted in Groucho Marx’s insane, quick-witted characters. I’ve seen him in other things, but I’m still amazed at how well he pulls the role off.

Mary Stuart Masterson play Penny, the girl Friday that the studio desperately needs to keep everything moving smoothly. Not that it does. But watching Penny desperately trying to keep the ship from sinking while dealing with Roger and the murders is a treat.

The other characters run the gamut. Ned Betty plays the studio owner who runs the place like a military commander. Corbin Bernsen plays the smarmy announcer. Christopher Lloyd portrays an intense, over-the-top sound man that’s a sheer joy to watch. Michael Lerner delivers and outstanding hardboiled Hollywood cop. Michael McKean is a hilarious band director.

The film didn’t do all that well at the box office, but I love it because it plays homage to OTR and because I love movies that have dialogue instead of just being pieces glued together with the latest Top 40. Maybe the dialogue isn’t all that original or especially funny to someone not in the mood or who hasn’t developed a taste for it, but for those of use that have, it’s a perfect gem of a film.

Topping off the film, the music is great, running the gamut of the big band era, and sounds fantastic. If you’re in the mood for a no-brainer, something that’s a delightfully thin mix of comedy, mystery, and thriller, Radioland Murders will provide a couple hours’ entertainment.