Three on a Couch (1966)

I just finished watching this movie, it was the first Jerry Lewis film I've seen, and I'm already a fan of this comic genius. Three On A Couch is full of gags from start to finish, constantly keeping the audience laughing with Jerry Lewis' character's attempts to make three women think he's three separate people. Jerry Lewis shows his talent as a comedic actor as he plays all those characters perfectly, but also awkwardly as though he's nervous that he might get found out. And yet the awkwardness is so subtle that it's believable that the ladies don't think something's up. He's also very deadpan in this movie, and at the same time high energy in his gags, much like Charlie Chaplin. So, bravo Jerry Lewis, you put on one heck of a performance.Although I will admit that some of the jokes didn't work. Some of them went on just a tad too long. Although they don't hurt the movie much. Also one thing I thought the movie should've done was make the three women more developed characters instead of just one-dimensional straight-men. Only one of them showed a personality (the athletic one), the others just seemed to have personalities described but not shown.Judging by the low score and the fact that it was featured in a book called Fifty Worst Movies (or something like that), I'm guessing this is one of Jerry Lewis' lesser movies. I haven't seen any of his other films so I can't say if Jerry Lewis fans will enjoy this, but I'd definitely recommend it to people who want to watch a really funny movie.

Jerry Lewis stars in and directed this inept farce about an American artist who wins a contest and hopes to spend the money traveling to Paris with his new bride, but she's a psychiatrist and can't leave behind her three most troubled patients ("I took an oath!"). The romantically-crestfallen ladies who are standing in the way are soon individually wooed by three bachelors, each of them the artist (now a con-artist) under an alias. This deception, of course, allows Jerry to half-heartedly dip into his standard bag of tricks and treat us to his funny voices and disguises (including one in drag). The camera-work is continually bad, with constant shots featuring the back of Lewis' head, and the script from Bob Ross and Samuel A. Taylor is flaccid and condescending (offensive to doctors, to commercial artists, but mostly to women). The 'mod' attributes in the costumes and art direction give the picture a jazzy look, but it's really just the same old stuff Jerry Lewis had been churning out for years by this point. *1/2 from ****

Dr. Acord (played by Janet Leigh), Christopher Pride's fiancee, is a psychiatrist with three attractive female patients who have problems with men, played out in extreme dependence on her. Chris (Jerry Lewis) wants to go on an extended vacation with her. To ease Dr. Acord's conscience in putting a hiatus on their frequent visits, he decides to be a beau to all three at once, with separate fake identities, to rectify their maladjustments. Lewis shows his varied talents for goofiness in playing three different types of people -- actually four, because in one case he also plays the sister, and in this dual role he is goofy at its most extreme, and very funny. The humor is cornball, but it is enjoyable. Jerry is a klutz -- not in a cheap slapstick way, but rather because he is a man out of place-- a zoologist, a rodeo star, and a fitness nut. But the ladies are each taken, and it is great. A nice syrupy ending too. "Three on a Couch" is a very enjoyable romantic comedy worth seeing.

Jerry's portrayal of Rutherford and sister Heather is one of his best. I'm giggling now as I remember the scenes. The movie is truly a delight to watch; I discovered it during the late 70's. Despite bad press from some and in my opinion, Jerry Lewis is one of the kings of comedy. In fact, Jerry is my second favorite comedian next to Richard Pryor.