Review of Some Like It Hot (1959) by Kylie P — 14 Feb 2010

From July 15, 2008:

Billy Wilder's cross-dressing farce Some Like It Hot pushed many envelopes in 1959. Jack Lemmon is the heart and soul of the comedy in this picture. Particularly when he starts resigning himself to his newfound gender and in light of Osgood's affections ("it's the only chance I'll get to marry a millionaire!"). Otherwise, the film is lots of witty dialogue and madcap farce.

As farce goes, it's probably perfect, but farce for the sake of farce will be the taster's choice depending on the viewer's sense of humor. To the film's credit and to Billy Wilder's credit, it did take on some traditionally taboo topics, such as bending gender identity and sex, in heaping helpings of innuendo.

Marilyn is iconic and a great foil for Joe/Josephine and Gerald/Daphne, but the silly story is simply too silly, for better or for worse. The second half of the film is much funnier than the first. The initial half of the film, when the guys are making jokes and commentary about being girls, is chuckleworthy but, ultimately, unoriginal in terms of the comedy (Shakespeare and others pioneered this concept). The film feels somewhat dated thanks to this half of the film (contrary to popular opinion, labeling the film timelessly fresh). The second half of the movie, however, takes on such a frenetic pace, and Jack Lemmon's character is so loopy with confusion over gender, that the viewer will laugh in spite of his/herself.

The ending is perfection in relationship to the rest of the film. It's one of the best endings in all of film and probably the singularly funniest bit in this film. All in all, Some Like It Hot is cute but only as funny as the viewer's sense of humor allows it to be.