Too much of everything
Boring, long, and too preachy.
While it doesn't offer any answers, it both thrills and makes you think.
View MoreUnshakable, witty and deeply felt, the film will be paying emotional dividends for a long, long time.
View MoreApprentice maintenance worker is mentored by a good-hearted neighborhood cop who wants to get one kid from the streets on the right path in life. Writer-director Don McGuire apparently fashioned this comedy vehicle for the team of Jerry Lewis and Dean Martin, but when Martin dropped out (and ended the partnership), Lewis took center stage--and appeared very comfortable in doing so. Unfortunately, McGuire's script (which shows evidence of tampering) allows Lewis too much room to do his act: self-pitying pathos, dumb/smart retorts, goofy faces and voices. The plot doesn't make much sense, anyway: officer Darren McGavin apparently thinks Lewis is a member of a street gang--but Lewis has a job and his own apartment, and there are no scenes to show McGavin realizing his subject isn't a delinquent at all (he just goes right on helping him...into the police academy!). Slick and well-produced in black-and-white, the picture mixes in 'funny' scenes for the kids (Lewis helping an eccentric tenant with his experiments, being picked in a self-defense demonstration by a Sumo wrestler) and also adds convenient ladies for both Lewis and McGavin. The narrative is lumpy (it's just a bunch of episodes strung together), but McGavin is surprisingly paternal with Lewis, which eventually leads to a curiously sober conclusion, one that won't please fans hoping for another wild Jerry Lewis outing. ** from ****
View MoreJerry Lewis Stepped Rather Softly into His Solo Career after His Highly Publicized Split with Dean Martin. They were a Very Popular Musical-Comedy Team in the Movies and had Them Rolling in Isles at Swanky Nightclubs and on TV Variety Shows.It wasn't a Congenial Breakup and Fans were Wondering just what would Become of the Two Entertainers. That's Ancient History now as Both Became Very Successful on Their Own. Rumours about Their (Non)Friendship were Fodder for the Tabloids and Gossip Columns for Years and there was Always Scuttlebutt about a Re-Uniting or at Least a Shaking of Hands.This is a Very Mediocre Movie but Jerry's Talent is Evident. He was a Hard Worker and an Always Involved Innovator of the Craft. He Honed His Slapstick Schtick and Mugging that Peaked with The Nutty Professor (1963) and then went Downhill for Years making Anachronistic and Unfunny Movies just on His Ego Alone.His Debut Solo Effort is not an Awful Film, it is just an Uneasy Combination of Comedy and Social Commentary that doesn't Quite Work. It has a Few Amusing Moments and is Highly Professional All Around but it doesn't Click. But it Made a Bundle of Money and Jerry was Off and Pratfalling His Way to Financial Success but Limited Critical Acclaim (except in France).
View MoreAt age 10, I kept my fingers crossed en route to see this movie. I loved both Martin and Lewis, was shocked at their breakup and truly wished them both happiness and success.The movie did not disappoint me and I sensed that Jerry would be OK. Jerry's next movie, " Sad Sack " was much funnier; I thought - although I do remember having a huge poster of Liliane Montevecchi hanging in my bedroom for at least two years after seeing the movie - and perhaps "that" had something to do with my preference LOL.The rest is history of course. For those in my age bracket, I also think it is worthwhile to mention how many times Jerry Lewis chose Kathleen Freeman to co-star in his movies. She was, of course, one of the two actresses to portray the maid in the 1953 TV series " Topper " which starred Leo G Carroll.
View MoreOnce again Jerry stinks up the big screen with his hyperactive sthick. Here he offers the ultimate in corny jokes along with a 'hoods become angels with the right kindly influence' story. If you really like Jerry then you'll most likely go for this one, otherwise it will bore you senseless.
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