History YMMV / YouCantTakeItWithYou

* FairForItsDay: Rheba and Donald may seem a bit dated, but they’re shown to be as likable and kind as the other main characters, and despite the former being their maid and the latter helping them with the occasional job, both of them are treated like family by the Sycamores, who view them as being equals. Also helps that modern productions downplay their stereotypes, such as having both speak perfect English.
** It also helps that the [[ColorBlindCasting usually white Mr. [=DePinna=]]] is treated the exact same way as them, being someone who works for the family, but is an honorary member in all but name, showing that the Sycamores regard people of color in the same way that they would a white man.

* TastesLikeDiabetes: While the play isn’t without its drama, it’s bound to get this response from some people given it’s a story about a family made up entirely of kind hearted, happy people who almost always get along with each other. Given it’s a very popular play for high schools, many teenagers who perform it feel this way, as it’s not exactly the kind of story that teens will relate to or care for.
** [[TropesAreTools However, this is often cited as one of the reasons the show has endured as long as it has.]] Many fall in love with the show and it’s characters precisely because they’re so likable. In the modern day, when entertainment is noticeably DarkerAndEdgier, it’s nice to sit back and watch something that just makes you feel happy.
* TheyWastedAPerfectlyGoodCharacter: Mrs. Kirby is completely absent from Act 3, meaning she misses out on the rest of the families' resolution, even though much like her husband she appeared to be unhappy with her life. Especially bad given her main grief seemed to come from having such a stiff, bore of a husband, which would be resolved if she got to witness him becoming a more free spirited man in the final scene. The film has her present for the ending though.

* ValuesResonance: The two black characters ''are'' stereotypical, but despite being in subservient positions to the white characters, they're still treated like equals and family to them, with the Sycamores' treatment of Rheba and Donald being shockingly progressive for back then.

** The Soviet Union is repeatedly criticized by Kolenkhov who both mocks the their failures and laments how they've ruined Russia.

**

* DesignatedVillain: Wilbur C. Henderson doesn't come across as particularly nice, but he's still legally correct to try and get Grandpa to pay his taxes for the many years he missed. Granted, Grandpa himself doesn't vilify him, even though he's in total agreement.

** The entire Sycamore family are crushed at the prospect of Alice leaving, but Paul takes it worse than any of them. In his attempts to comfort Penny, he tells her that he blames himself that he felt horribly insecure in the presence of the more successful Mr. Kirby. The whole situation left him doubting his competency as a parent, and unsure of whether or not he’s wasted his life on pleasures. Much like his daughter though, he thankfully perks up after Grandpa fixes the situation.

** The IRS. Aside from their somewhat rude agent, nobody else is bothered by Grandpa refusing to pay his taxes, even though they acknowledge that he's breaking the law.

** Grandpa may be just as nuts as the other Sycamores, but he’s by far the smartest man in the play, helping to turn someone as straight laced as Mr. Kirby to his more laidback lifestyle, and manages to scam the IRS into not only getting him off the hook for not paying income tax, but getting them to pay him.

* DesignatedVillain: Wilbur C. Henderson doesn't come across as particularly nice, but he's still legally correct to try and get Grandpa to pay his taxes for the many years he missed.

** It also helps that the [[ColorBlindCasting usually] white Mr. [=DePinna=]]] is treated the exact same way as them, being someone who works for the family, but is an honorary member in all but name, showing that the Sycamores regard people of color in the same way that they would a white man.

* TheyWastedAPerfectlyGoodCharacter: Mrs. Kirby is completely absent from Act 3, meaning she misses out on the rest of the families' resolution. The film has her present for the ending though.
* UnintentionallyUnsympathetic: Kolenkhov terrorizes Mr. Kirby a few times, but [[InnocentlyInsensitive he has good intentions]] so he's still likable. But him blowing up in self defense shortly after he wrestled the man to the flow can test this. Though with a more confused than angry delivery, it's not a problem.

* AcceptableTargets: The IRS. Aside from their somewhat rude agent, nobody else is bothered by Grandpa refusing to pay his taxes, even though they acknowledge that he's breaking the law.

* TheyWastedAPerfectlyGoodCharacter: Mrs. Kirby is completely absent from Act 3, meaning she misses out on the rest of the families' resolution.

* EthnicScrappy: {{Averted}} by Rheba and Donald. As noted under FairForItsDay, the two are dated characters, but they’re given as much prominence and shown to be just as likable as the Sycamores, and despite working for the family, they’re treated by them as equals and being family in all but name. It also helps that any stereotypes found in the roles can easily by {{Downplayed}}.
* FairForItsDay:
** Rheba and Donald may seem a bit dated, but they’re shown to be as likable and kind as the other main characters, and despite the former being their maid and the latter helping them with the occasional job, both of them are treated like family by the Sycamores, who view them as being equals.
** It also helps that the [[ColorBlindCasting usually]] white Mr. [=DePinna=] is treated the exact same way as them, being someone who works for the family, but is an honorary member in all but name, showing that the Sycamores regard people of color in the same way that they would a white man.

* TastesLikeDiabetes:
** While the play isn’t without its drama, it’s bound to get this response from some people given it’s a story about a family made up entirely of kind hearted, happy people who almost always get along with each other. Given it’s a very popular play for high schools, many teenagers who perform it feel this way, as it’s not exactly the kind of story that teens will relate to or care for.
** [[TropesAreNotBad However, this is often cited as one of the reasons the show has endured as long as it has.]] Many fall in love with the show and it’s characters precisely because they’re so likable. In the modern day, when entertainment is noticeably DarkerAndEdgier, it’s nice to sit back and watch something that just makes you feel happy.

* CrazyAwesome: Grandpa may be just as nuts as the other Sycamores, but he’s by far the smartest man in the play, helping to turn someone as straight laced as Mr. Kirby to his more laidback lifestyle, and manages to scam the IRS into not only getting him off the hook for not paying income tax, but getting them to pay him.

* FairForItsDay: Rheba and Donald may seem a bit dated, but they’re shown to be as likable and kind as the other main characters, and despite the former being their maid and the latter helping them with the occasional job, both of them are treated like family by the Sycamores, who view them as being equals.

* TastesLikeDiabetes: While the play isn’t without its drama, it’s bound to get this response from some people given it’s a story about a family made up entirely of kind hearted, happy people who almost always get along with each other. Given it’s a very popular play for high schools, many teenagers who perform it feel this way, as it’s not exactly the kind of story that teens will relate to or care for.

* TheWoobie: Alice genuinely loves Tony, but after a disastrous meeting between their families, despite her best efforts, she’s left utterly heartbroken to the extent that she plans to leave behind him and her fiancée. Luckily, Grandpa snaps her out of it.

* MagnificentBastard: Grandpa Martin Vanderhof is the head of the Sycamore family, and by far the smartest person in the entire play. When his family seems like it’s about to fall apart, Grandpa goes into a series of speeches that simultaneously manages to convince Anthony Kirby Senior to give up his unhappy straight laced life and turn to Grandpa’s more free spirited way of living, rekindles the romance and engagement between his granddaughter Alice and Kirby’s son Tony, and brings all of the family members out of their low points and restores them to high spirits. Not only that, but he’s managed to go decades living well and making money despite not doing a bit of work. When the government steps in to put a stop to this and make him pay, Grandpa effortlessly puts together a scheme to convince them the Martin Vandehof they’re looking for is his deceased father, which not only causes them to apologize and say he doesn’t have to pay a cent, but it’s implied that he’ll even be payed for pointing this out.

* MagnificentBastard: Grandpa Martin Vanderhof is the head of the Sycamore family, and by far the smartest person in the entire play. When his family seems like it’s about to fall apart, Grandpa goes into a series of speeches that simultaneously manages to convince Anthony Kirby Senior to give up his unhappy straight laced life and turn to Grandpa’s more free spirited way of living, rekindles the romance and engagement between his granddaughter Alice and Kirby’s son Tony, and brings all of the family members out of their low points and resort them to high spirits. Not only that, but he’s managed to go decades living well and making money despite not doing a bit of work. When the government steps in to put a stop to this and make him pay, Grandpa effortlessly puts together a scheme to convince them the Martin Vandehof they’re looking for is his deceased father, which not only causes them to apologize and say he doesn’t have to pay a cent, but it’s implied that he’ll even be payed for pointing this out.

* SugarWiki/FunnyMoments: Either the bodyslam, or the Word Association game.

** Tony feels oppressed by his father’s expectations to follow in his footsteps and is similarly heartbroken by Alice’s plan to end their engagement, with every attempt of his to fix it being met with rejection.

* It also helps that the [[ColorBlindCasting usually]] white Mr. [=DePinna=] is treated the exact same way as them, being someone who works for the family, but is an honorary member in all but name, showing that the Sycamores regard people of color in the same way that they would a white man.

* It also helps that the [[ColorBlindCasting usually]] white Mr. DePinna is treated the exact same way as them, being someone who works for the family, but is an honorary member in all but name, showing that the Sycamores regard people of color in the same way that they would a white man.

* EthnicScrappy: {{Averted}} by Rheba and Donald. As noted under FairForItsDay, the two are dated characters, but they’re given as much prominence and shown to be just as likable as the Sycamores, and despite working for the family, they’re treated by them as equals and being family in all but name. It also helps that modern productions can easily {{downplay}} any stereotypes found in them.

* EthnicScrappy: {{Averted}} by Rheba and Donald. As noted under FairFotItsDay, the two are dated characters, but they’re given as much prominence and shown to be just as likable as the Sycamores, and despite working for the family, they’re treated by them as equals and being family in all but name. It also helps that modern productions can easily {{downplay}} any stereotypes found in them.

* It also helps that the [[ColorBlindCasting usually]] white Mr. DePinna is treated the exact same way as them, being someone who works for the family, but is an honorary member in all but name.

* FairForItsDay: Rheba and Donald may seem a bit dated, but they’re shown to be as likable and kind as the other main characters, and despite the former being their maid, both of them are treated like family by the Sycamores, who view them as being equals.

* FairForItsDay: Rheba and Donald may seem a bit dated, but they’re shown to be as likable and kind as the other members of the other main characters, and despite the former being their maid, both of them are treated like family by the Sycamores, who view them as being equals.

* CrowningMomentOfFunny: Either the bodyslam, or the Word Association game.