Average in almost every way...don't stone me!!

Rating: 6/10 (12 August 2013)

While I am a student of Political history and could recite many a Marilyn Monroe fact or conspiracy theory to you, I had yet to see her in one of her iconic films. So finally I sat down to watch what is generally considered one of the greatest film comedies of all time. That is a lot to live up to and I didn't realize just how popular the film was until I logged on here to write this review. 8.4 on IMDb?! Now, please don't get me wrong...I enjoyed this movie. It was fun and wild and absolutely I can see how and why it pushed the limits back then. I'm not sure I have seen so many analogies and innuendos in one film. They were being shoved down your throat like a case of mistaken identity on Three's Company. The first analogy or clever innuendo is a chuckle and not much else but after the twentieth...it gets tired. The setting of 1929 makes some pretty intense action/gangster scenes even for the time. It was almost shocking to watch it now and that was kind of a neat mix to the comedy. Some of the comedic moments are almost dark in nature. I was surprised that I didn't really feel a lot of the humour had homophobic undertones which I thought would be a certainty. If anything, the very last gag in the film is almost pro-gay in some ways and it was definitely worth a laugh.
Tony Curtis and Jack Lemmon were so young!! Curtis was handsome and fun and delivered his comedic moments perfectly. Lemmon was quirky and fun and certainly has legendary comedic timing. The two of them together are just awesome. A buddy film like this requires great chemistry and there is nothing short in their chemistry together. They seem like a bit of an odd-couple but they work great together. The stunning beauty of Marilyn Monroe and her sheer raw charisma on screen cannot be denied. When she first appears and every subsequent appearance you are just mesmerized. She's actually a much actress that I anticipated and her role is fun and breezy and perfectly performed by her. The chemistry between her and Curtis and even her and Lemmon is lacking. I didn't feel nearly any sparks between her and Curtis and that's really unfortunate. Romance is an important part of the film and it doesn't really fit well. George Raft is the perfect cookie cutter gangster. He is nothing more or less than the stereotypical "Boss" we would expect from a gangster flick. Same for his crew as well. They could have been lifted right from Dick Tracey. Dave Barry was a great supporting actor and gave some great comedy as the angry but stumbling Beinstock. Joan Shawlee is also good as the band leader and mother hen Sweet Sue. I also really enjoyed the campy and fun character played by Joe E. Brown as the man who falls for Lemmon's Daphne.
I have no doubt that to see the true brilliance behind the film you would have to look at from the perspective of 1959 films and the time period. The movie is set in 1929 and I couldn't help but notice the inconsistencies in the timing. Its small things but certain products that weren't available in 1929 (Cheese Whiz for one) or just certain dialect. Its a small thing but worth noting nonetheless. The comedy is definitely balanced out by the more violent scenes in the film so it almost turns out a darker comedy that doesn't always fit the slapstick tone and concept of the movie. It is a fun movie and certainly is a classic that shows up on many lists of being a top film. I don't necessarily agree with that but who am I to deny a film that has stood up to 50+ years. For me, it didn't floor me but it was entertaining. 6.5/10