Not since "8 Heads in a Duffel Bag" and the "How High" previews
have I laughed so little at something that the film makers thought
would be hysterical.
Jerry Lewis is the richest man in the world. He is rejected as 4-F
by the army, and decides to use his money to raise his own army-
of about half a dozen. He then impersonates a Nazi commander in
Italy, and eventually tries to kill Hitler. That is the description of the
flimsy plot.
This film is as funny as a heart attack. This film makes "Hogan's
Heroes" look like Shakespeare. If the money men of "The
Producers" had really wanted to lose their cash, they should have
shown this film. I cannot stress how bad this thing is.
Lewis' direction consists of two different cameras shooting the
action from two different angles, then being edited together. This
sitcom type of direction works on television, but here it is an
obvious attempt to cheat the audience. He ends most of his
scenes with a still shot, as if giving the viewer a chance to double
over in stitches before going to the next tired set up. I spent most of
the movie doubled over in abdominal agony, accompanied with
severe flatulence, over this thing.
Lewis, the director and producer, sets the film in 1943, but makes
no attempt to use period costumes or sets. Everyone wears the
latest style and has the latest interior design...for 1970. The
supporting cast is lost as Lewis goes off on his patented tangents,
which last as long as major surgery and are just as painful to
watch. When Lewis becomes the Nazi commander, he spends the
last half of the film screaming at the top of his lungs in a
performance so odious as to stink up any good will you try to bring
in at the beginning.
The final embarassing shot has Lewis and his cronies trying to
put one over on the Japanese. They wear buck teeth, squint their
eyes, and talk in a "funny" accent. It may be one of the most
blatantly racist occurrences since the internment camps. I was
slack jawed at what Lewis did through this whole thing, but that put
me over the edge. Watch for Kaye Ballard's very tasteless scene
where she tries to attempt suicide over and over again.
"Star Trek"'s George Takei has two small scenes, then wisely
drops out of the picture. This has less laughs than Mel Brooks' last
three films combined. There is nothing sadder than watching a
formerly respected comedian screw up a project so horribly, you
actually feel ashamed for them. Jim Carrey learned that with "The
Majestic," but Jerry Lewis still shows up on television once in a
while pulling the same unfunny schtick. I feel sorry for him.
"Which Way to the Front?" is cheap, unfunny, offensive, and stupid.
I feel bad for everyone involved, and anyone who must endure this.
I do not recommend it.
Though rated (G), this contains some physical violence, some gun
violence, and some adult situations. If your child shows interest in
seeing this, please consult professional help.