To my surprise, this is my first introduction to the comedy duo of Martin and Lewis. They made 17 films together and I've not seen any of them. How can that be? I'll certainly have to check out more of their silly antics because I did enjoy this wacky farce. Their formula is obvious: Jerry Lewis
bumbles around making goofy faces and talking like a crazy child-man while the handsome Dean Martin woos women with his crooner straight-man style. The gags are more vaudeville numbers than plot driving devices but that's what helped make these guys huge stars. For me it's Shirley MacLaine that shines the most, as the model in the Bat Lady suit who wants Jerry to marry her. Director Frank Tashlin keeps the pace moving and adds just a hint of adult innuendo. The big question: is this film still funny after all these years? Some of it is still fresh but most of it feels forced and a little stale. That's not the film's fault, really, it's all the situation comedies and films I've seen since that borrowed from oldies like these. My favorite scene is watching Jerry Lewis to up and down various flights of stairs to relay a message to Dean. It's really a classic moment for a classic dumb comedy. Grade: B
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