After watching Some Like It Hot off Prime, I decided to go searching for some of Joe E. Brown's earlier starring features, and naturally settled on this science-fiction comedy. I didn't expect much, and I didn't laugh much and yet I found myself thoroughly enjoying it. It all comes down to one reason: Joe E. Brown himself. He's one of the most likeable, charming and ingratiating screen presences around. You don't mind that the movie isn't really all that funny when you find yourself rooting for such a great guy, who you really want to see succeed in life and fulfill his goals (of not just marrying the prettiest girl in college, but adopting an orphan boy with her!). As for the movie itself, based loosely on the Philip Wylie novel, it's mostly interesting for how it anticipated numerous later Bowery Boys films and Disney shopping cart movies (of course, primarily The Strongest Man in the World, but the Dexter Riley movies overall are quite reminiscent of it), and especially the Twilight Zone episode "Mr. Dingle the Strong." Rod Serling must have seen it in his youth, because not only is the plot taken directly from the movie, but so are several scenes from it (especially when Burgess Meredith first wakes up in the morning and later when he suddenly loses his powers). It may have even influenced The Nutty Professor, with its sardonic portrayal of college life, only Jerry Lewis who made that one should have studied Brown more carefully to make sure he didn't descend into schmaltz. Recommended ; don't expect a lot of laughs, but do expect to enjoy Brown's performance.
statistics: Posted by Andrew Kidd — 3:47 PM - Today — Replies 0 — Views 62