I kept waiting to hear that woman on the canned laughter used on "Gilligan's Island" saying "Uh Oh!" every time Tommy Kirk got into trouble. Having not seen one of Disney's generic comedies of the 60's or 70's in many years, I chose this one in an effort to go down memory lane and see why in my mind their grab bag of farcial entertainment seemed mediocre at best. Now I know the reason. These pleasant family films are basically TV sitcoms expanded for the big screen '60's and '70's style with child-like comedy distracting the viewer from realizing that they are virtually plot less.
In the case of "Merlin Jones", I confirmed what I had suspected all along. Merlin is a geeky college kid who experiments in mind reading and hypnosis, constantly getting him into trouble. Annette Funnicello (away temporarily from the beach) is his harried girlfriend, while a slew of Hollywood veterans show up for the older crowd to appreciate. Leon Ames is the frazzled judge whom Merlin believes to be a closet criminal, while Stuart Erwin (who played his share of Merlin Jones type characters in the early 30's) is a befuddled police officer. The delightful Connie Gilchrist plays Ames' housekeeper, a reunion with him from their MGM days. For this, "Merlin Jones" is worth a look. There are a handful of genuine laughs to be had, but just be aware that they do not really involve a linear plot. The series of gags are part of a shell of a story. I dare not complete my review by failing to mention one of the worst movie theme songs I've ever heard in my life. It makes the same years' "John Goldfarb, Please Come Home!" should like "Que Sera Sera"!
In the case of "Merlin Jones", I confirmed what I had suspected all along. Merlin is a geeky college kid who experiments in mind reading and hypnosis, constantly getting him into trouble. Annette Funnicello (away temporarily from the beach) is his harried girlfriend, while a slew of Hollywood veterans show up for the older crowd to appreciate. Leon Ames is the frazzled judge whom Merlin believes to be a closet criminal, while Stuart Erwin (who played his share of Merlin Jones type characters in the early 30's) is a befuddled police officer. The delightful Connie Gilchrist plays Ames' housekeeper, a reunion with him from their MGM days. For this, "Merlin Jones" is worth a look. There are a handful of genuine laughs to be had, but just be aware that they do not really involve a linear plot. The series of gags are part of a shell of a story. I dare not complete my review by failing to mention one of the worst movie theme songs I've ever heard in my life. It makes the same years' "John Goldfarb, Please Come Home!" should like "Que Sera Sera"!