Review of Man's Favorite Sport? (1964) by Tonypolito — 30 Apr 2012

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY: Ok, it's nowhere near any of the Doris & Rock/Cary romps, but honestly Rock does this role/persona so well that he overcomes the mediocre material to make this an enjoyable addition to MidCentury sex comedy viewing.

THE UGLY DETAILS: And when I say mediocre, I mean that. The script employs female "wardrobe malfunctions" as shtick thrice no less. We get to see Rock ogling two woman as their blouses are soaked through to sheer by a thunderstorm. This is 1964 so, of course, while the audience sees Rock ogling into the two pairs of breasts, the audience only sees the two ladies from behind, their shoulder blades revealed by the rain. Then there's a little black dress that unzips itself on a wicker chair and SOMEHOW Rock's tie gets caught up in it and ... well you know. But again, Rock, does this type of gig so well, you've got to see it. There's other MidCentury-styled ogling offered up throughout; Rock's girlfriend turns up for one end of a phone call dress in an entirely sheer lingerie, coincidentally standing behind some back-lighting so that the audience- gasp - sees her entire figure and the over-sized panties she's wearing underneath. (Still, the entire look is quite alluring.) Rock is a bit challenged by the oddity of this hunting/fishing material. It's pretty hokey to watch a huge fish literally jump three feet out of the water to bite down on Rock's fishing hook, but Rock plays it as well as it can be played, I suppose. Paula Prentiss' ditzy can't hold a candle to Doris Day's ditzy; it's plain that Paula's trying to deliver a role that was written with Doris in mind.

RECOMMENDATION: If you enjoyed those classic MidCentury Doris, Rock & Cary projects, you'll like this as well. Just keep in mind this is all Rock, almost as if there isn't any female foil on stage at all.

PS: Young people will get a real hoot out of seeing where Rock works, that being an Abercrombie & Fitch circa 1960, when it was an outfitter of sporting & camping goods for the Manhattan money elite, not a marketeer of underwear advertisements sporting nearly naked 18 year-olds.