Good story, Not enough for a whole film

As Good As It Gets

Pretty good movie overall. First half was nothing special but it got better as it went along.

Although I seem to have had higher expectations than I thought, the movie is super entertaining.

When you talk to many people about Jerry Lewis and his films, you often get extreme reactions. Some think he's a genius--one of the greatest film comics of all time. This is apparently true in much of the world outside the United States. Others think his films are terrible and would never watch them. Well, me being a compulsive nut about films, in the last couple years I have sought out his films and have seen most of them (a few, such as "The Day the Clown Cried" are not available). And, overall, I have come to feel that you cannot call his films good or bad--some are exceptional and some are terrible. This is true of most filmmakers and comics. So, when I say bad things about "Cinderfella", understand I am NOT anti-Lewis--I just think this film in particular is very, very weak. Why? Well, three main reasons sink this film--which I'll talk about below."Cinderfella" is a reworking of the traditional Cinderella story with a few big changes. Instead of women, it's a guy's story--with wicked step-brothers, a male protagonist and a fairy godFATHER. Another is that it's set in the present day--so you'll see cars, mansions in Beverly Hills and the like.The film finds Jerry playing a person named 'Fella' (??). He lives with his nasty step-mother and step-brothers in a fancy mansion. Apparently, somewhere on the property some fortune is hidden--but no one knows where it is. In an odd (actually, BIZARRE) twist, Fella's dead father talks to him in dreams and tries to tell him where the money is hidden. This part of the story, to me, wasn't entirely necessary. Anyway, the rest is a lot like the original story--with a Ball, Fella working like a slave in his home and the rest.So why was I less than thrilled with the film? The biggest problem was the singing. While Lewis' singing isn't bad, and occasionally pretty good in some films, here it is rather poor--and he does it many, many times. One song might have worked, but for a non-singer, four is too many and each time he sang, the film ground to a halt. Second, and it is also a biggie, is that the film just wasn't funny. Too few of the jokes worked and, frankly, there just weren't that many attempts at laughs. In contrast, in "The Bellboy" (which I really liked), the jokes came so rapidly that even if they didn't work each time, you kept laughing. Here, there were fewer attempts and too many serious moments. Finally, in too many scenes, the director (not Lewis in this case) overdid the scenes. For example, Jerry doesn't just comb his hair like a normal guy, he had to comb it 'wacky'--and took too long combing his hair! And, as Fella did his household chores, each time it was so overdone and overlong that it strained my nerves. Overall, a clear misfire and among Lewis' weakest films. Not terrible--just not all that good.

I used to love Jerry Lewis, and Cinderfella was a favourite.Dean Martin used to get in the way I always thought with a lot of soppy songs!(I must warn you I also like Police Academy (my partner cant believe this) so have a taste for slapstick.)But from memory, I used to think Jerry had fantastic timing to a lot of his routines so you were on the edge of your seat while laughing as well. This has made me think I must get the DVD and have another look at it to see if it is still as magical.

The old story told with a twist. The sexes are reversed in this one.This time it's Jerry Lewis victimized by a wicked stepmother and her 2 hoodlum sons. Who else but Ed Wynn could play a fairy godfather?Dame Judith Anderson, a veteran player of the wicked, is at it again but how can we expect this great lady to add comedy to spice up her performance. She needed to do her part with a comic twist as Jo Van Fleet did in the television version of "Cinderella." Sadly, that's missing. Playing the role straight is of no consequences in this farce. The sons come off like underworld hoods. It's a little too heavy for this film.Jerry is funny but his attempts at singing fall quite flat.Nice to show the kiddies that guys can be victimized too.

Jerry Lewis is Cinderfella in this movie that is a variation of Cinderella, in this case she being he.He has to put up with Wicked Stepmother (Judith Anderson) and her sons Maximilian (Henry Silva) and Rupert (Robert Hutton).One day Fairy Godfather (Ed Wynn) appears and helps him win the heart of Princess Charming (Anna Maria Alberghetti). I bought this movie one week ago for 2.50 euros.I would have been ready to pay more but they didn't ask for more than that.I'm proud to own this movie. Cinderfella is an extremely funny musical fantasy comedy by Frank Tashlin.Jerry Lewis is being him funny self in the lead.Extremely beautiful Ms Alberghetti doesn't only got the good looks but also the acting skills.In one great scene you get to see Jerry dancing with Anna Maria while Count Basie plays his swinging music in the back.Mr Lewis is quite a dancer.Today this amazing comedian turns 79.He has shown us he's the king of clowns.He's one of the greatest comedians off all time. Lewis can be found from that list with Chaplin and Lloyd and all the other great ones.Jerry has also showed the serious side too.He can go beyond the clown.In this movie he does it occasionally.It doesn't offer only moments of laughter but sadness, too.Cinderfella is a tragic figure when you think about it.He gets kicked in the head by his stepmother and her sons.In one terrific scene Fella sits in one end of the huge table and the rest of the family in the other.All the time they make him come to their end of the table and do some favors.He is in his loneliness dreaming to be something more than he is.Jerry Lewis has said; there is no gap between comedy and tragedy.And that is the truth.