Starring: Jerry Lewis, Milton Berle, Foster Brooks, Dick Butkus, Zane Buzby Average Rating: Audience Rating: PG (Parental Guidance Suggested) Binding: VHS Tape Format: Color, HiFi Sound, NTSC Label: Warner Home Video Number of Items: 1 Release Date: December 31, 1992 Running Time: 90 minutes
Description: In this Jerry Lewis classic from 1983, Jerry not only stars in the film, but wrote and directed it too. The story is about a nerd who goes to see a shrink about his suicidal impulses. Hechr(39)s a clutz and just canchr(39)t seem to kill himself successful
Jerry Lewis in 1983---what's changed? I was very curious about this movie. This is one of a handful of Jerry's films that have still not received a release on DVD. Well, it's easy to see that this can no way stand side by side with "The Errand Boy" or "The Nutty Professor" or be included in the big Jerry Lewis box set.
The movie is our usual Jerry that we have definitely seen in a dozen movies before this one. It can be comforting but he can also begin to out stay his welcome. There are somethings that Jerry does well and somethings that I wish he'd leave behind. There are moments in this film that will have you rolling your eyes and then you will have some moments where you'll enjoy it.
There are moments where continuity and editing suffer greatly. Because Jerry plays different characters throughout the movie...one is confused if its Warren (Jerry as the main character) dressed in a disguise---or if it's Lewis as another character. Some of the jokes are tough to follow if you are not a Lewis officionado.
It boggles the mind that Lewis for the most part has kept his style and gags rooted to the 1940's. I suppose the phrase "if it ain't broken--don't fix it" comes to mind but somethings age and become outdated. There are moments in the movie that easily could have been written in 1945...then rewritten again in 1966 and then recycled here in 1983.
The structure of the film follows more of what Lewis has done in the past: an episodic film with clips rather than a focused and strict story that arcs. Again, it feels a bit limiting to constantly watch Lewis films in this way. It's a never ending cycle...the structure complements the gags and comedy and vice versa.
There are few good moments though: smoking/being knocked out; the (confusing and out of place) bank robbery/musical; the waitress at the diner and spline operation scene. That's about a handful of gags from a film that has maybe 20.
Older indviduals, I suspect, will enjoy this movie. They will not notice any difference with this movie to any of Jerry's past films. That's an easy thing to do because they are all very alike. If you're looking for a Jerry Lewis film--you won't be dissapointed. If you're looking for something different...you'll be dissapointed.
An undiscovered Classic This is one of my favorite Jerry Lewis films. Made on the heels of "Hardly Working" it was never released in theaters (in its title of "Smorgasboard")...but oh what a funny film. Like many Lewis films it is a compilation of skits held together by a basic plot. Yes, as always some things work, some don't...but this is funny stuff. The opening is one of the most funny sequences I have ever seen.
Own this movie now..beg for it to be on dvd. Funny funny funny!
Since when I was 3 The review who said this was a cult classic for his family must be in my family. Some key details of his writing tell me he isn't. But god is this movie good. When I was 3, my brother taped this off HBO, and we moved to India. This was one of the few American movies we had. And I watched it every day. 3 times a day. I am not kidding. My family went nuts. They loved the movie, but cmon, 3 times a day, isn't that excessive? Yes. It was.
But this movie is hysterical. And the caveat is, people will either love it or hate it, and you'll never be able to predict who will fall into which camp. $28, the current used price, is a bit steep probably. But I've got my copy, so ha ha suckers!
Surprisingly Good Lewis Effort Originally titled "Smorgasbord," this 1983 Jerry Lewis comedy never received an American theatrical release, but it's actually one of his better efforts. The film is little more than a collection of sketches involving a suicidal misfit named Warren Nefron. Some of the routines are priceless (such as the pantomimic tour de force in a psychiatrist's office) while others misfire. Nevertheless, it's nice to see writer-director Lewis in relatively good form after the astonishing sloppiness of "Hardly Working" (1981).
a cult classic for my family! My siblings and I watch this movie practically every time we go home to visit. We have loved it since first seeing it over 20 years ago. Today, our conversations are sprinkled with phrases such as "No. Anesthesia. Please. Boing.Boing.Boing.Boing." and "OW! That HURTS! Are you NUTS!" Then we are all laughing like crazy!
And every time I get on a low-cost airline I think of Willy Wehawkin and my hand naturally curls! But my favorite scene is definitely Jerry in the French prison planning his escape! Jerry is brilliant and appreciated by so few...
For the more objective review: The movie definitely has some slow points but just keep watching. As in most stand-up comedy routines, the jokes have a way of coming up later and catching you off-guard. (i.e. the annoying waitress, Jerry getting punched each time he lights up, Jerry falling down...often!)
If you hate Jerry, you probably will hate the film and there is nothing I can say to convince you otherwise. Many of my friends (whom I've made sit through this) think my family is nuts! But I still keep pushing it hoping for the next new members of our cult-following...
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