As soon as I saw Blake Edwards' name attached as the director, I just knew I had to see this. Then I saw Jack Lemmon as the star, or leading man. There was also Grandpa Joe, or Jack Albertson's name as the opening titles rolled. Here was a comedy I simply had to see. There was no TV show funnier than 'Chico and
the Man.' Now "The Man" himself was going to shine in this must-see laugh fest.
First, Joe (Lemmon) flirts with (Kirsten), played by Lee Remick by buying her Peanut Brittle. She just laughs in his clownish face, along with the audience. In between plot points, we see Kirsten (Lee Remick) munching constantly on chocolate bars. Now my sides are splitting. Joe (Jack Lemmon) is seen boozing it up from the beginning of the picture, so we assume he is some sort of zany sot, but hard drinking is just a part of his job as a PR man.
Finally Kirsten accepts a dinner date with Joe Clay (Lemmon) and he still drinks a lot, even though he is not at work now. I thought maybe he was nervous, but he just needed more drinks. Kirsten does not drink at all, but since she is hooked on chocolate bars, Joe pours a few Brandy Alexanders down her gullet to show her how great alcohol really is. By this time, they are both laughing at nothing, and so are we.
Weeks go by and they are constantly smashed and having a ball. At one point they are both sober and they surprise her father late one night and she introduces Joe Clay (Jack Lemmon) to him. The old man (Buddy Ebsen) takes an immediate dislike to Joe, for no good reason! Blake Edwards sure knows how to set up a great uncomfortable minute or two. They realize that they must have woken up Pa, so they abruptly leave so Kirsten (Remick) can show Jack Lemmon (Joe Clay) the huge greenhouse in the back yard. The (second-most) funniest scene comes soon when Joe and Kirsten kiss passionately in the entryway, not knowing that the old father is watching them from the house. I personally had to pause the DVD and hurry to the bathroom so I wouldn't pee myself laughing. The real kicker comes now when Joe announces to Pa that they were married about two hours ago. I could not believe this script! Married two hours ago and they didn't even invite Buddy Ebsen (playing Kirsten's father). Tears were close to streaming down my cheeks when I saw the look on his face. I simply cracked up trying to hold back the giggles. There is a lot more to go yet.
First, Joe (Lemmon) flirts with (Kirsten), played by Lee Remick by buying her Peanut Brittle. She just laughs in his clownish face, along with the audience. In between plot points, we see Kirsten (Lee Remick) munching constantly on chocolate bars. Now my sides are splitting. Joe (Jack Lemmon) is seen boozing it up from the beginning of the picture, so we assume he is some sort of zany sot, but hard drinking is just a part of his job as a PR man.
Finally Kirsten accepts a dinner date with Joe Clay (Lemmon) and he still drinks a lot, even though he is not at work now. I thought maybe he was nervous, but he just needed more drinks. Kirsten does not drink at all, but since she is hooked on chocolate bars, Joe pours a few Brandy Alexanders down her gullet to show her how great alcohol really is. By this time, they are both laughing at nothing, and so are we.
Weeks go by and they are constantly smashed and having a ball. At one point they are both sober and they surprise her father late one night and she introduces Joe Clay (Jack Lemmon) to him. The old man (Buddy Ebsen) takes an immediate dislike to Joe, for no good reason! Blake Edwards sure knows how to set up a great uncomfortable minute or two. They realize that they must have woken up Pa, so they abruptly leave so Kirsten (Remick) can show Jack Lemmon (Joe Clay) the huge greenhouse in the back yard. The (second-most) funniest scene comes soon when Joe and Kirsten kiss passionately in the entryway, not knowing that the old father is watching them from the house. I personally had to pause the DVD and hurry to the bathroom so I wouldn't pee myself laughing. The real kicker comes now when Joe announces to Pa that they were married about two hours ago. I could not believe this script! Married two hours ago and they didn't even invite Buddy Ebsen (playing Kirsten's father). Tears were close to streaming down my cheeks when I saw the look on his face. I simply cracked up trying to hold back the giggles. There is a lot more to go yet.
