Review of It's a Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad World (1963) by Derric R — 05 Aug 2009
A few decades ago, this kind of over-the-top mad-cap comedy was very much in vogue, although the material "tries to be funny" like a a bad Vaudeville act. However the film's comedy has not aged well. The film is brimming with many recognizable names, it starts sounding like a Who's Who of Trivial Pursuit Comedy Edition: Milton Berle, Buddy Hackett, Ethel Merman, Sid Caesar, Jim Bachus, Jonathan Winters, Mickey Rooney, Phil Silvers, and scores of others. More have uncredited cameos like Jack Benny, Carl Reiner, Jerry Lewis, even the Three Stooges show up. With so many roles the characters remain caricatures especially Ethel Merman as the shrieking mother-in-law. A little goes a long way. Spencer Tracy is kept separate from the rest until the end and watches the proceedings with wry, tired bemusement. He doesn't seem to be in the same film.
The film is designed as pure entertainment, but at 155 minutes it feels bloated and I found my mind wandering to the fates of the cast and which members were still alive.
This review of It's a Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad World (1963) was written by Derric R on 05 Aug 2009.
It's a Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad World has generally received positive reviews.
Was this review helpful?
