Overrated...a 20 minute joke stretched to fit 2 hours+

Rating: 7/10 (13 February 2012)

Okay, I admit it. I'm weird. I am not as taken with this film as the rest of the world. To me it's just one very long double entendre. And, it has one cast member (who unfortunately got top billing) who simply can't act -- Marilyn Monroe. She jiggles in all the right places, but that's about all I can say for her in any movie in which she ever appeared. I may be a man, but I enjoyed watching Joe E. Brown much more than Marilyn. Oh, and exactly where are those high ocean-side cliffs in Florida? But, I admit, in terms of the movie, this was pretty daring in 1958 (when it was filmed). Director Billy Wilder was often ahead of his time...as with "Kiss Me, Stupid" (with Dean Martin and Kim Novak), but his greatest talent seemed to be telling an off-color story.
I do give Wilder credit for using some historic movie gangsters and cops -- George Raft and Pat O'Brien -- in those roles in this film. And, those classic actors get the movie gets off to a good start. But, for me, once the guys (Jack Lemmon and Tony Curtis) become girls, it kind of goes down hill and becomes rather repetitive. That's not to say Lemmon and Curtis aren't good here. They're excellent! Perfect casting! But to me, the joke is good for about 20 minutes...not over 2 hours. However, Wilder ended the movie perfectly when Joe E. Lewis says (when learning that his fiancé -- Lemmon -- is a man), "Well, nobody's perfect."