Jackie Mason plays the title role, but don't look for his shtick because you won't find it here. His performance is more reminiscent of Dom DeLuise in Fatso. He's a down-on-his-luck nebbish who finds himself in a real jam due thanks to his brother, another loser who wants to be a player. The brother is nervously played to perfection by Don (aka Dan) Frazer, later of Kojak fame. Once Mason's love interest joins the proceedings, the movie seems to lose its initial momentum, and forgets about Frazer until its slapdash ending. The girl is quirky and neurotic enough for a movie of her own. Altogether, this is worth seeing as a time capsule of early Jackie Mason, and a marvelous performance by Don Frazer -- but has few other charms.
Review of The Stoolie
