Way... Way Out (1966) User Reviews (27)

Incredible sets, good camera-work, a few great gags

[rooprect · 6/10 · 3 April 2007]

A few parts had me howling, even though the rest of the room was dead quiet. But I've always been a fan of Jerry's more subtle "deadpan" humour and surrealistic, wordless scenes where the comedy seeps into you rather than the bang-pow punchline type of laugh.

For example in CINDERFELLA there's that scene where he's trying to light his stepbrother's cigarette. No music, no dialogue, no camera motion at all. Just 120 seconds of pure disaster. Or in NUTTY PROFESSOR there's the hilarious scene where he timidly enters the dean's office--again, no sound, no words, just a thick, hilarious atmosphere.

WAY... WAY OUT has a few of those types of gags, and they were brilliantly done, including one of the funniest gags I've ever seen ("If I'm not mistaken, that's Stella Mary right there"). Unfortunately the film seemed to switch gears halfway through, once they're on the moon, and it became more of a silly sitcom. Still, I enjoyed it until the end.

A word about the visual presentation: magnificent! Sure, we don't generally go to Jerry Lewis movies to see artistic cinematography, but it's there. The sets are surreal (futuristic in a cool retro-60s way). Everything was large and colourful. Shots are framed wonderfully (be sure to see it in widescreen). The camera moves smoothly and brilliantly throughout the action. But then, as I said above, everything changes once they're on the moon. The sets become smaller, more claustrophobic and less grandiose. This returns us to the silly sitcom feel.

Overall it was wacky & entertaining. I think it's best watched by people who are familiar with Jerry's subtle style, rather than his slapstick skits. For that reason I'm afraid most people will be disappointed. But a few of you may really enjoy it.

Moderately amusing for about half its length...

[moonspinner55 · 4/10 · 13 August 2006]

In 1989, the U.S. Air Force wants to send a newlywed couple into outer space to live on the moon in a space-station for a year; after the first couple drops out, alternate Jerry Lewis is chosen, but he's a bachelor...enter Connie Stevens as a prospective bride. Good-looking Jerry Lewis vehicle is amusingly naive about the future, and yet frustratingly silly regarding sexual matters (Disney's "Moon Pilot" from 1961 was actually much friskier!). Lewis is more restrained than usual, Stevens (despite an odd, helium-sounding speaking voice) is effervescent, and the art direction and decoration is a '60s dream (complete with clear plastic inflatable furniture!). Unfortunately, the script completely peters out once the couple gets launched, and the dreary sub-plots involving bachelors-in-space Dennis Weaver and Howard Morris and sexy Russian cosmonaut Anita Ekberg fail to rouse any laughs. *1/2 from ****

Mildly interesting and that's about all...

[planktonrules · 5/10 · 29 July 2013]

"Way...Way Out" is an unusual Jerry Lewis film mostly because it isn't really a comedy. Sure, it has a few laughs here and there, but the overall effect is more like a commentary about the Cold War than a funny film. To put it bluntly, it isn't particularly funny--though it is interesting.

The film is set in the near future. There is an American and Russian base on the Moon and both are quite small--with two persons in each. As for the American base, the men aboard keep going crazy--presumably because they cannot function without women. But, the Russians have sent a man-woman team and their base is functioning much better. So, the head of the American space agency (an oddly cast Robert Morley) has determined that the next team going to the station will be married. The problem is that the next man scheduled to go (Jerry Lewis) is single and has no particular plans to marry. But, when told they want him to marry a pretty lady (Connie Stevens), he's in favor of the idea--but she isn't. So, the pair agree to go and to marry but not to consummate the marriage. The rest of the film is basically waiting until Stevens changes her mind. In between there is a pretty silly (and forgettable) plot involving the two Russians (Dick Shawn and Anita Ekberg).

The bottom line is that the film lacks laughs but is also inoffensive and an interesting look into the times in which it was made. A must for Lewis fans--otherwise, an inoffensive time-passer and nothing more.

By the way, I am not sure why but if you watch the veteran actor Sig Ruman closely, you can tell his voice is dubbed. Perhaps he had trouble doing the Russian accent credibly.

60's spoof

[SanDiego · 18 September 2000]

"Austin Powers" spoofed spy films of the sixties and this film is somewhat in that vein except "Way... Way Out" was made from a sixties perspective, not a nineties perspective. Also, this film spoofed a sacred cow, the space program (Disney's "Moon Pilot" in 1962 covered much of this territory already and if you like one you'll probably like the other...though very few people have heard of either). Any fan of the sixties will recognize likeable Brian Keith (he also starred in "Moon Pilot"), sophisticated Robert Morley, leggy bombshell Anita Ekberg, frumpy character actor Milton Frome, studly James Brolin, wacky Howard Morris, even wackier Dick Shawn, and forever Chester, Dennis Weaver. Jerry Lewis of course is the star and delicious Connie Stevens (who Jerry introduced in the must superior "Rock-a-Bye Baby") is the eye candy. By today's standards one might consider the casting of the actresses for their physical attributes a bit sexist (like that doesn't happen today) but this is a physical comedy and placing Connie Stevens among a group of men (men always have sex on their mind don't you know) is not really all that sexist (at least not for the women). Connie Stevens success has been that she's a good comedian too. Some of the comedy is Benny Hill style (or "Austin Powers") but not crude like contemporary films "Something About Mary" or "Scary Movie."

Way...way bad

[JasparLamarCrabb · 1/10 · 30 December 2011]

Wow...it's terrible. Let's face it, Jerry Lewis trying to play it semi-straight is pretty dull. He's an astronaut roped into marrying Connie Stevens as a publicity stunt. They head for a space station to relieve crazy Howard Morris & Dennis Weaver. They also tangle with Russian counterparts Anita Ekberg & Dick Shawn. Nothing going on is even remotely funny save for the mugging of Morris. He's one of those personalities that just has to be seen to be amusing. Lewis has zero chemistry with Stevens, who, though striking is no comedienne. Bobo Lewis appears briefly and so does a very young James Brolin. Despite the colorful cast, there are very few laughs. Directed in the blandest way imaginable by Gordon Douglas and featuring a very blustery Robert Morley as Lewis's superior. Gary Lewis & the Playboys sing the silly theme song.

It Seemed A Lot Funnier In The Theater

[bkoganbing · 4/10 · 23 October 2011]

Way back in the day when I saw this Jerry Lewis film in the theater it seemed a whole lot funnier. I guess the laughs haven't worn that well in 40 years. Certainly their predictions of the future certainly didn't wear that well.

Way Way Out has the USA and the USSR still grappling in the Cold War with the newest theater of that war being the Moon where both superpowers have set up weather stations in the year 2000. The Russians have Anita Ekberg and Dick Shawn there, but being the atheistic Communists they are, the couple has been sent up without benefit of clergy.

But Americans being the moral people that they are have reservations about that. Two men, Dennis Weaver and Howard Morris, have been on the Moon for a year and the sexual tensions are showing badly, especially on Morris. What's fascinating here is that the obvious relief for such tensions isn't hinted or implied. Remember this was America before Stonewall.

So last minute astronaut Jerry Lewis is given a female partner in Connie Stevens in which they say the vows for convention's sake, but don't plan to do any deeds. Bad for the American image if a man and woman live alone on the Moon without being married, we're not godless and atheistic like those Russians.

So the usual situations involving sex, the Cold War, and sex and the Cold War are brought into the story of Way Way Out. Merely the fact that history did not go the way that this film indicates lessens the laughs considerably.

Jerry is more restrained than usual except when he does a drunk act with Shawn after they both get crocked on vodka. Shawn, Robert Morley as the NASA administrator and Brian Keith as an Air Force General go to town in their overacted parts.

Way Way Out belongs in the third tier of Jerry Lewis's films.

NOT "Far Out", man

[mmthos · 5/10 · 2 October 2020]

Mid 60's sex comedy in space. 2 rocket scientists (Jerry Lewis and incredibly cute Connie Stevens) rushed by the air force into marriage to be the first husband and wife on the moon, There they meet an unmarried couple of Russian cosmonauts (a stunningly statuesque Anita Ekberg's the girl), drink a lot of vodka and get stupid. Unfortunately apart from the couple of guys (Howard Morris and Dennis Weaver) Lewis and Stevens are sent to relieve, after 3 years of isolation together. going crazy and at each others throats for lack of female companionship, the rest of the tepidly "sexy" shenanigans that happen "Way Out" aren't as much fun as what goes on back on earth, Bob Morley gets the best lines and makes the most of them--who cares how a distinguished English gentleman ended up head of the American space program? :-) Brian Keith is hilarious as military brass stereotype Gen. "Howling Wolf" Hallenby, and there's the brief appearance of a ridiculous southern senator Deuce Hawkins (Alex D'arcy} who manages to get in a complaint, topical then, but apropos of nothing else here, that the civil rights movement was going "too fast", a sentiment that seems still to be held by a great number of senators and their constituents to this day. You laugh while you cry when you see something like that all these years later With the advantages of home viewing these days, I'd FF once they arrived on the moon, pausing only to admire the lovely ladies, at home in their spacepod, lounging around in their negligees..

Jerry gets help in providing the laughs.

[yenlo · 7/10 · 17 June 1999]

Although Jerry Lewis is the star of this mid 60's spoof of the space program he gets plenty of help in providing the comedy. A good supporting cast make this an enjoyable comedy film.

Howard Morris's character Schmidlapp a sex starved American astronaut who's been stationed on the moon far too long is perhaps the best of all. When he sees the gorgeously cute Connie Stevens he loses it. "Maybe she's one of those girls who soaps herself all over..and...then ...gets...into the tub" he tells fellow astronauts Lewis and Dennis Weaver who are wondering how Stevens takes a bath. The late Dick Shawn and Brian Keith are also featured. Like Gilligans Island "Your sure to get a smile" when you see this movie.

It was truly, Way...Way Out!

[mshduke · 5/10 · 28 April 2017]

Our narrator informs us at the start that our film takes place near the turn of the century, so we must assume it is 1998 or 1999. NASA is now NAWA and is in a pickle. Both the Americans and the Russians are maintaining weather stations on the moon. The Americans have 2 male astronauts while the Russians have a male and female. The problem is, one of the Americans keeps attacking the Russian female because he has gone mad. The head of NAWA sees a publicity coup by arranging for a married American team to replace the 2 men, but everything falls apart when the newly married couple starts fighting. Enter Lewis as Peter Mattemore, the oldest trainee who always finds a way out of actual space flight. Mattemore manages to convince Eileen Forbes (played by the lovable Connie Stevens) to marry him and go to the moon with him. Hilarity ensues after they arrive at their destination to find the 2 Russian cosmonauts (played by Dick Shawn and Anita Eckberg) and find Shawn's character is a sex crazed cossack.

For most of the film Lewis is rather subdued in his acting, only letting some of his comic genius burst out for a few seconds at a time. It isn't until we are 2/3's through the film that the true slapstick that we recognize as Lewis trots out during the party scene with all 4 main characters. Stevens is her usual sexy yet girl next door type. She really makes those clear plastic couches and pillows look good. Eckberg, although more statuesque and built than Stevens, takes a back seat to Connie. Shawn is a zany lunatic that is about the only equal to Lewis when it comes to over the top acting.

Screwy people, and some lines I'll never forget!

[Ken4Pyro · 6/10 · 5 March 2009]

OK, so it's not sophisticated Woody Allen comedy, or even high-tech science fiction. As we say in the math world: givens.

But this one has some pieces which are over the top hilarious. The premise of this movie are noted in other comments and reviews, so I'm not going to waste time on that.

Some things I'll always remember:

**Howard Morris as Schmidlap. A galloping libido, stuck on the moon for a year with no female companionship, who descends into random violence towards Hoffman (played wonderfully by Dennis Weaver), includes two manic exchanges. Hoffman is pleading with the earth to send up replacements when the boss (Robert Morely) notices his front teeth are incomplete, and just casually asks what happened. Whereupon Hoffman responds that Schmidlap, in a testosterone fueled episode, knocked them out. Oh man, classic. The other event was when they're trying to get him in the spacecraft to go home to earth, and they have to practically hit him with a tranq dart to keep him from getting near Connie Stevens. Morris at his screwy, nutty, insanely funny best.

**Brian Keith as General Hallenby. Oh my. Screaming, grumbling, and all with a lack of understanding of what's going on around him that's just rich. His exchange with Lewis, who's told he has to "Secure the moon", results in Lewis, quite appropriately asking why he should do such a thing. Hallenby's response? "None of your damn business, Mattimore, JUST SECURE THE MOON!" As in, you don't have the need to know, so shut up and do what I tell you. Brian Keith's battle with the TV remote is not to be missed.

**Dick Shawn, a truly funny man, as a highly oversexed Russian, in a battle with "instant vodka" (just add water). Watching him struggle with the water jet, and eventually just giving up and swallowing the "instant vodka" tablets and then drinking water (talk about an instant DUI!) is just too priceless. And then, in a fit of western monogamy, he tries to warn Lewis not to try any frolics with Ekberg. His mangling of the word "hanky-panky" is a cheap joke, but Shawn pulls it off so well that I've remembered it for over 40 years.

Yes, this isn't Lewis at his best. For me that will always be the original "Nutty Professor", but in watching a lot of movies in my time I've learned something I think about a lot with him in relation to this movie. It takes a huge talent to let someone else get all the laughs. Very few in movies today have that kind of class, and Lewis did, and does.

So sure, it's not high brow humor. So what? It was funny, in spots, and that's not a bad thing.

Way Out is Exactly That-Horrible! 0*

[edwagreen · 1/10 · 26 December 2013]

They really can't come more dreadful than this 1966 film. Jerry Lewis and crew are literally out of space with this one. Our government wants a married couple to be at the moon following an embarrassing situation between an American and Russian woman in outer space.

The picture might have been funnier had Lewis married the woman assigned to him when Connie Stevens temporarily bowed out of the picture. The woman was domineering and actually thought what she was doing was a service for America. Instead, Stevens bails in and the picture goes from downhill to the most absurd imaginable.

In space, the two are soon joined by Dick Shawn and Anita Ekberg, two Russian space people who proceed to get everyone drunk. Believe it or not, this is not very funny at all.

As the space commander on earth, Robert Morley does have some brief funny moments as the overwhelmed guy in this awful situation.

Always fun to watch!

[barnettj · 8/10 · 15 December 2013]

If you like silly, spoofy films, this is a great one to watch. Jerry Lewis and Connie Stevens work so well together and, as a big fan of both of them, I am always thrilled when I get the chance to watch this film. They are both so lovable! I especially love the scene where they finally agree to go to the moon together. Dick Shawn gets to provide us another frenetically, wacky character and Anita Ekberg is just a total sexpot. The rest of the supporting cast each add to the fun in their own signature ways. I think that is the best part of this movie; each actor gets to provide us with a great view of what we expect from their comedic side.

Jerry hits the outer space- lacks of laughs but gives an interesting look of the era

[Petey-10 · 7/10 · 1 September 2017]

Remember when there was Cold War and the Soviets and the Americans both wanted to conquer the space? The year is 1989 and there is an unmarried soviet couple on the moon. The Americans only have two fighting men, so they send astronauts Peter Mattemore and Eileen Forbes there. But they have to get married first. Way Way Out (1966) is a Jerry Lewis movie that is not directed by Jerry Lewis but by Gordon Douglas. Mr. Lewis recently passed away so I watch stuff by him I haven't seen before. This movie is not his better work. It's only mildly amusing. I don't know if the result would have been better Jerry having directed it himself. Sure there's something pretty funny, like both of the wedding scenes. But the Vodka drinking scene simply goes on for too long and it's not that funny. The fact is I'd rather see Jerry doing his childlike act than behaving like that. Connie Stevens plays Eileen and she's good. And Anita Ekberg and Dick Shawn as Anna and Igor. Robert Morley is a lot of fun as Mr. Quonset, the head of NAWA. Dennis Weaver and Howard Morris are funny as Hoffman and Schmidlap. James Brolin and Linda Harrison are also pretty great. Although I didn't find this movie a great Jerry Lewis film, I do think it's rather fascinating to see what kind of a future they create. Like we find out that Richard Nixon plans to come out of retirement to reunite the Republican Party. Can't recall such a thing ever taking place.

Out of Many Contenders, Probably the Worst Jerry Lewis Film

[mrb1980 · 1/10 · 19 June 2016]

"Way...Way Out" is, in my opinion, Jerry Lewis' worst movie. That's quite a claim, when you consider he also made "The Big Mouth" the following year. It's one of those 1960s "sex comedies" which is so timid and restrained that it doesn't even really deserve that description.

After an interminable time of discussing an upcoming space flight, Jerry and Connie Stevens are U.S. astronauts that fly to the moon, where they are joined by two Russian Cosmonauts, played by Dick Shawn and Anita Ekberg. I tried hard to find something humorous after the astronauts arrive on the moon, but alas, there was nothing. The movie rambles on to an inconclusive ending without a chuckle in sight.

Lost among the bad acting and poor script are some pretty good actors, including Brian Keith, Dennis Weaver, Robert Morley, and James Brolin. Keith's turn as an arrogant and autocratic army general is so bad that it's genuinely embarrassing. The entire cast seems to have saved their careers' worst performances just for this movie.

I had read really scathing reviews of "Way...Way Out" but I had to see it for myself. Yes, the reviews are correct, it's that bad, maybe worse. This horrifically bad movie makes "Hook, Line, and Sinker" look like brilliant dramatic art. Just as an experiment, you should watch "The Big Mouth" and "Way...Way Out" back to back on a rainy day. I take no responsibility for your actions, but be warned that you may end up calling a hotline for severely depressed people.

"Way Out "is Fluffy but Essential Sixties Viewing

[billgbg · 11 March 2006]

We have VHS! So I rented it last night--first laid eyes on this gem back in '66 when I was ten years old. Ten year olds shouldn't see movies like this, hehe.

Jerry Lewis does less of his wacky character here, and tries playing it straight, not for gonzo laughs. He's nearly laid back compared to Robert Morley's curtain rattling performance as Jerry and Connie Stevens "first married couple on the moon. He's a handler like Leo G. Carroll was for Napoleon Solo in the Man From Uncle. Brian Keith appears several times in short inserts as a gruff-but-still-gruffer General who orders third act action where Jerry must "secure the moon".

Sure, all the sets are drenched in futuristic lighting as the story is set sometime after the Sixties, doesn't say when though. So in the background are cool concept cars of the future, during the Earth based scenes. You see solid patches of red and brilliant white furniture,(and very cool clear, plastic pillows), straight out of movies like "In Like Flint" or the British set designer for Sixties movies Ken Adam.

The Moon base location has cool looking pods for sleeping/working--and yes the patented "Batman"-style, big, blinking lights computers are strewn all over your eyeline, which I totally loved as a kid. Lighting-wise, the production simply pours all available light at all times during the indoor moon scenes, which has a television-feel about it; later verified by the technical names, especially Jack Martin Smith, who worked scores of sci-fi/fantasy pics during the Sixties for TV and low budget independents.

The film is super-sexy with tease galore supplied by Anita Ekberg's fab legs, shot from at least three angles during her opening house call on the American married couple living next door on the moon. There's all sort of adult-level innuendo that flew over my head at the time: things about wife swapping, watching two girls makeout on one's wedding night, and others that are cleverly enfolded into the dialog, some PC types of the Two-Thousands would call this "leering" and it probably is, hehe.

Dick Shawn as the Tarzan-like Russian counterpart to Jerry simply does his patented "thing" with grimacing and good accents. There's an extended sequence of everybody getting drunk and kinda swapping, which today's producers would be cutting out because bad things happen to people who drink to excess, right? --oh yeah everybody knows that. The drunk thing was big in the sixties for some reason. Dick Shawn's other picture that year "What Did You Do In The War, Daddy?" had him being drunk through days of story time.

Seeing this movie without any warning would certainly remind some of Austin Powers; it's inescapable really. However I saw this tonight with a 28 year old who reminded me, "Austin Powers got it's look from this, not the other way around"

Way....way off the mark

[gridoon2024 · 3/10 · 2 April 2020]

"Way....Way Out" is about a manned trip to the moon before the actual first manned trip to the moon was a reality, but it's lacking in any sense of wonder, opting for a crude bedroom farce instead; it just happens that the beds are in space. It's talky, static, and barely ever funny, though it does get a shot in the arm from the appearance of sexy Anita Ekberg. * out of 4.

Lost in space. Hope the rescue crew gets lost too for this terrible comedy.

[mark.waltz · 3/10 · 7 March 2023]

The problem with Jerry Lewis movies is not just the fact that he is an acquired taste and most of his later films do not hold up. The problem is that The supporting cast is directed to overplay as much as Jerry, and as a result, they are not just chewing the scenery. They are choking on it to the point where there's no strength to spit it out. This parody of the space program, set in the late 1980's, has some funky looking sets, but they don't really do anything to make it seem like it set in the future. Lewis of course is surrounded by a very of beauties, including Connie Stevens and Anita Ekberg, but the scenes dealer is Bobo Lewis, best known for her dozens of sitcom appearances over the years, and always a welcome presence. I've seen her in several Lewis films, and she's always as welcome as Kathleen Freeman who doesn't appear in this one.

You've also got Dennis Weaver, Brian Keith and another scene stealer, Robert Morley, who plays his part with the droll class that he always does, fortunately, and all that does is just show how hideous the over playing of the others are. The film tries to be hip by dealing with predictions of social ordeals of the future, and if it makes any point that has remained truthful, it's that society really hasn't changed as much at all, and basically that people are pretending to be in favor of equal civil rights while nothing really has been done to improve the issue of equality. But this is supposed to be a comedy, and while there are some amusing moments (hence my higher than a bomb rating), they seem to be more an accident than anything else. But it's still a comedy with few laughs, so ultimately, it's a bore, and both Weaver and Keith seem out of place in it.

Poor Jerry Lewis vehicle

[searchanddestroy-1 · 5/10 · 25 October 2022]

I am always surprised by the career of Gordon Douglas, who has made all kinds of films: westerns, crime, adventure, science fiction, comedy, musical, drama, war.... A very prolofic and "complete" director. A very good technician. No really proper style. I did not know this Jerry Lewis' film, made in the late sixties, not his best part of career. This not a science fiction movie, despite the plot, topic taking place in space. Norman Taurog or Frank Tashlin, usual Jerry Lewis directors should have made it, and certainly not Douglas, who deserved better than this, really. RIO CONCHOS maker had nothing to prove with this awful mess. Jerry Lewis tries his best to save the result, but it is hopeless.

"Lavish" is the word!

[JohnHowardReid · 8/10 · 5 November 2017]

Jerry Lewis (Peter), Connie Stevens (Eileen), Robert Morley (Quonset), Dennis Weaver (Hoffman), Howard Morris (Schmidlap), Brian Keith (General Hallenby), Dick Shawn (Igor), Anita Ekberg (Anna), William O'Connell (Ponsonby), Bobo Lewis (Esther Davenport), Sig Ruman (Russian delegate), Milton Frome (American delegate), Alex D'Arcy (Deuce), Linda Harrison (Linda), James Brolin (Ted), Michael Jackson (TV announcer). Narrated by Colonel "Shorty" Powers.

Directed by GORDON DOUGLAS. Written for the screen by William Bowers and Laslo Vadnay. Costumes designed by Moss Mabry. Director of photography: William H. Clothier. Art direction: Jack Martin Smith and Hilyard Brown. Set decorations: Walter M. Scott and Stuart A. Reiss. Unit production manager: Nathan R. Barragar. Assistant director: Joseph E. Rickards. Film editor: Hugh S. Fowler. Special photographic effects: L. B. Abbott, Emil Kosa, Jr and Howard Lydecker. Make-up by Ben Nye. Hair styles by Margaret Donovan. Music composed and conducted by Lalo Schifrin. Title song (Gary Lewis and the Playboys) by Hal Winn (lyrics), Lalo Schifrin (music). Co- ordinator for Jerry Lewis Productions: Joe E. Stabile. Sound recording: Al Overton, David Dockendorf. Westrex Sound System. A CinemaScope picture in DeLuxe Color. Producer: Malcolm Stuart. Copyright 26 October 1966 by Jerry Lewis Productions/Coldwater Productions/Way Out Company.

Released through 20th Century-Fox Film Corp. New York opening at neighborhood cinemas: 26 October 1966. U.S. release: 26 October 1966. U.K. release: 1 October 1967. 9,432 feet. 105 minutes. For U.S. release, the film was cut to 101 minutes. The full-length version was shown in England and probably Australia. Sydney opening at the Esquire (or Town).

SYNOPSIS: 20th Century-Fox provides a new launching pad for Jerry Lewis in Way... Way Out, and literally sends him to the moon. In the film, a provocative satire on global politics, the space race and the battle of the sexes, Lewis portrays a weather astronaut stationed in space. It is a role which utilizes the full gamut of Lewis' comic talents and, with the current worldwide interest in interplanetary subjects, Way... Way Out shapes up as a film that will not only appeal to the ever growing audience of Jerry Lewis fans but to moviegoers of all types seeking modern first-rate entertainment fun. Co-starring with Lewis are vivacious Connie Stevens, fast rising young star Dick Shawn, the well-known British actor Robert Morley who was recently seen in "Those Magnificent Men In Their Flying Machines" and the voluptuous Anita Ekberg. Under the direction of Gordon Douglas who guided the successful "Rio Conchos" and the soon to be released "Stagecoach", "Way... Way Out" is currently being filmed on location at the Manned Space Flight Center in Houston and at the NASA facilities in Cape Kennedy and Huntsville, Ala. Malcolm Stuart is the producer. — Fox publicity.

NOTES: Final film appearance of one of our favorite character actors, Sig Rumann, who died of a heart attack in 1967 at the age of 83. Gary Lewis is Jerry's son.

COMMENT: For the second time in a movie, Lewis uses his natural voice, but his vehicle here is not as successful as "Boeing Boeing". Lewis, mind you, is very good and he makes his lines seem much funnier than they are, but the film is let down by some atrocious over-acting by Dennis Weaver and Howard Morris and by a script that sags badly once the moon is reached.

Director Gordon Douglas has a fine time with the sets.

I think this was Sig Rumann's final film. He is very appropriately cast as one of the Russian delegates but, for some unexplained reason, his fine voice has been deleted from the sound-track and some colorless nonentity's dubbed in.

The special photographic effects are extremely well done. The sets look very attractive and the whole film has been produced on an exceptionally lavish scale.

This is a fun movie!

[nickrogers1969 · 9/10 · 3 November 2008]

I love crazy sixties films and this is one of them. I'm not a Jerry Lewis fan but I thought he was funny, not over the top or exaggerating. Connie Stevens is very cute in the American girl next door kind of way.

Anita Ekberg surprised me. It was so bizarre that this La Dolce Vita star would team up with Jerry Lewis but she did, and it proves she was a good comedienne too. In this film she's a brunette (awful hairdo, tho) and looks not a little like Garbo! The poor thing has to wear bathing suits the entire film.

Robert Morley is in it too and is as lovable British as ever. He could make any part he played lively and fun. James Brolin and Linda Harrison (Planet of the Apes) are in it too, as is Dennis Weaver.

The special effects are quite good for 1966 and quite camp for today. The title tune by Lalo Schifrin is catchy. I saw this on a German DVD in English with the soundtrack at times changing to German at times. Really bizarre to see Jerry Lewis in space in German!

Many good laughs stand test of time, others were hilarious at the time

[jmg38 · 9/10 · 24 April 1999]

Saw this as a teen first time it hit TV - and laughed nearly all the way. Many good lines that stand the test of time (you should hear what she wanted to do last night) as well as usual over-the-top performance from Lewis and (more so) from Shawn.

Some of the humour is based on the very REAL socio-political situation with the space race and the cold war, so younger viewers might not always "get it". Too bad. You should still get enough from the rest of the lines. Movie wasn't meant to be "camp" in original release, but should gain somewhat due to campy appearance from a late 90's perspective.

Rent it - have some laughs - and "soap (yourself) all over".

Adorable retro comedy

[MissPammy · 8/10 · 16 August 2007]

This movie is a hilarious sixties take on what life in a space station might be like in the future. Jerry Lewis, minus his usual goofiness, is very appealing in this movie as the astronaut who must find a female astronaut to marry within three days, and Connie Stevens is the cutest as his astronaut wife who insists that they marry "in name only." Together, they go on a mission to relieve two astronauts that have been at the space station for a year, one a sex-starved nut and the other his beleaguered colleague. Robert Morley as the man in charge, Mr. Quonset, and Brian Keith as Gen. "Howling Bull" Hallenby are superbly funny, and the retro fashions and sets are a kick. Lewis and Stevens are delightful in their roles, and Dennis Weaver as Hoffman and Howard Morris as Schmidlap are comical. I love this movie as a charming and adorable step back in time to the sixties romantic comedies. It's funny every time I see it.

A Great Jerry Lewis film!

[GOWBTW · 9/10 · 24 January 2013]

The 1960's were known well for it's campy fun. The same year "Batman" and "Star Trek" debuted, Jerry Lewis comes out with this sci-fi comedy, "Way... Way Out". You got this bungling astronaut named Peter Lattimore (Jerry Lewis) and Eileen Forbes (Connie Stevens) who are assigned to replace two male astronauts because they are doing nothing but be at each other's throats.The longentivity up in the US Weather Station caused them to suffer "adult homesickness" . Peter and Eileen were the last chance of hope in space because the last couple split up. They go up into space, send the two male astronauts back home to Earth, and would later meet the Russian couple, who are not married. They visit the American couple, have a vodka party, and had the young girl sleep over after wards. After hearing a word from the General, Peter jumped the gun and takes out Igor (Dick Shawn). Realizing his error, he clears things with him. The competition seems to never end, my friend. A fun and simple movie, there are a few scenes that are not kid friendly, but not too bad though. 4 out of 5 stars

Release the DVD!

[oystermanproductions · 10/10 · 27 September 2010]

Jerry Lewis movie, I swear I love this thing. It's better than The Nutty Professor. The Commies have a man and woman on the moon. So the Americans send up Jerry Lewis and Connie Stevens, the first married astronauts. It's an arranged marriage, they barely know each other. So the movie has this sweet vibe as these two married strangers start to fall in love. And there's some moon shenanigans. The Russians invade the space station, and Jerry swallows all the vodka pills. I haven't seen this movie in twenty years--it's not out on DVD, a crime--but I have fond memories. It's a happy flick. And the title song is an inspired bit of 60's pop music.

Interesting

[flex6218 · 10/10 · 26 March 2003]

Way...Way Out is an interesting movie. It pokes fun at the cold war, the military, the Russians(Soviets)and the whole space race!!! Some may say that poking fun at these things is irreverant. But I say that you have to look at the context. In this case the irreverance is fair, completely fair. I say this because Way...Way Out, pokes fun at everyone involved. Way...Way Out is an excellent comedy.