- The Cocoanuts is a strange first film for the Marx Brothers since it is seemingly unaware that they are the only part of the film worth watching. I appreciate the desire for the pretext of a plot, but every moment the camera lingers on anyone other than a Marx (or Margaret Dumont) is completely wasted. While this is true for all the Marx Brothers movies, the later offerings don't bother providing extensive and boring setups before letting the brothers take center stage. Likewise, the later films include musical interludes primarily as a means for showcasing the admittedly considerable musical talents of Harpo and Chico. Instead, The Cocoanuts gives us the "Monkey Doodle Doo" and other musical offenses that would be completely forgettable if they were not such serious impediments to amusement.
- That said, the comedy routines that actually make it onscreen are quite amusing. Even when the Marx Brothers aren't at their absolute funniest (a peak they wouldn't reach for several films), they remain the source of some of the wittiest film comedies that "talking pictures" would ever have to offer. In particular, the auction scene and adjoining room chase scenes are good templates for the immensely high quality scenes to come in later movies.
- Apparently, The Cocoanuts features one of the first overhead shots in film.
