Funny, then Creepy, then Sad, then Odd

I've been seeking out a lot of older movies lately. I just really like the Rat Pack crew, but found Oceans 11 to be rather stilted and boring. I saw this one and had never heard of it, but the premise sounded good.

The first half of the movie is pretty darn funny. Dean Martin as the bachelor friend, Ernie (big stretch for him), is the best part of the movie. When the scene changes to Mexico, Caesar Romero provides a very funny touch as a lawyer who plays both sides of the marriage/divorce game. After a quickie divorce and then an equally quickie (and mistaken) marriage, Dean Martin's pratfalls when he realizes he has accidently married his best friend's wife, are hilarious. But after Dan realizes Val is going to use the mistaken marriage to manipulate him, the movie gets kind of mean. Dan moves into Ernie's place and Ernie becomes the "family man."

This should have been mined for great comedy, but it isn't. The two kids are brats, Ernie has a change of heart about how to raise the kids which makes no sense, Val can't see she is doing more harm than good, and Dan seems to be gloating in his new found bachelorhood, even though he knows its a sham. His relationship with his daughter's friend just seemed a bit risqué for the time and the tone of this film.

Just felt kind of sorry for all of the characters at this point. Even the happy ending felt tacked on and not very well plotted out.

Still, a very funny movie and all the cast seems to be having a good time. Would have preferred a lighter touch with the subject matter but I give them credit for trying to be different.


My memory foam pillow says it can't remember my face. I can tell its lying.