So Jerry Lewis plays a suburban husband/father with annoying kids and a wooden wife who can balance the hell out of the checkbook. His friend the doctor tells him he's dying of a heart defect and has only weeks to live. What does Jerry do? He agrees with his weeping wife that he'll live his last days to their fullest, going on a solo fishing trip and living the good life until the inevitable end. He finances this last vacation with his wallet full of credit cards, and why not? He won't be around when the bills arrive! This might be the film's one sly comment on the age of plastic debt and consumerist wet dreams. Maybe I'm being generous...
Anyway Jerry eventually discovers his doctor pal was lying about the heart condition so he could get Jerry out of the picture and go after Jerry's wife. Did I mention said wife is conveniently, secretly, and implausibly in love and in league with said doctor? She is, and if you're not laughing by now we've at least got one thing in common.
I find Jerry Lewis' career ironic... or maybe infuriating. He endeared himself to the audience with a moronic persona and then revealed himself to be the most pretentious, arrogant, self-important "artiste" ever to grace the stage.
Temporary rage aside, I am a Jerry Lewis fan who could not find one great Jerry Lewis moment in this movie. "Hook, Line & Sinker" stands as a bitter indictment of marriage and suburbia without any tension-relieving laughs... it's a black comedy without the comedy. Jerry could do better, and so can you. Pass and seek out his earlier, funnier films: The Bellboy, The Errand Boy, etc!
GRADE: C
Anyway Jerry eventually discovers his doctor pal was lying about the heart condition so he could get Jerry out of the picture and go after Jerry's wife. Did I mention said wife is conveniently, secretly, and implausibly in love and in league with said doctor? She is, and if you're not laughing by now we've at least got one thing in common.
I find Jerry Lewis' career ironic... or maybe infuriating. He endeared himself to the audience with a moronic persona and then revealed himself to be the most pretentious, arrogant, self-important "artiste" ever to grace the stage.
Temporary rage aside, I am a Jerry Lewis fan who could not find one great Jerry Lewis moment in this movie. "Hook, Line & Sinker" stands as a bitter indictment of marriage and suburbia without any tension-relieving laughs... it's a black comedy without the comedy. Jerry could do better, and so can you. Pass and seek out his earlier, funnier films: The Bellboy, The Errand Boy, etc!
GRADE: C