Here's a star-vehicle that should have been a winner: Bob Hope as a poison-pen theater critic on the East Coast who insists on writing the review for wife Lucille Ball's new play. Ira Levin's 1960 Broadway play, a reportedly sophisticated romp and minor hit, has been adapted to the screen by Jack Sher without a smidgen of wit. It's a ham-handed dud that nearly sinks the leads, although Ball gets in a few choice moments before the unforgivable finale cheats her and the audience. Don Weis is responsible for the flat direction; cinematographer Charles Lang is to blame for the blurry colors, mostly reds and depressing grays. If this is the continuation of "The Facts of Life", I'll stick with Hope and Ball circa 1960. * from ****