Really good potential done in by a horrendous script and Ms. Welch's non-existent acting skills. She is so lucky she is as drop-dead gorgeous as she is because the woman actually makes Pam Anderson look like Olivier.
The Cons: The script and direction. Both are poorly handled, messy, and inconsistent.
The Pros: Setting aside the idiocy of making James Stewart and Dean Martin brothers (topped only by making Dean Martin the brother of John Wayne, Earl Holliman, and Michael Anderson Jr in "Sons of Katie Elder"), they are both very watchable. I have read some complaints of Dean Martin's acting on this site, but one must really dismiss the FILMS of Dean Martin and study the ACTING of Dean Martin. He is actually excellent. Always. Most of Dean Martin's films are garbage, but I dare you to find an insincere Dean Martin moment in any of them. Dino is, however, horribly miscast in this film, along with Mr. Stewart, but to their credit they try like heck to give it their all. As stated in a previous comment on this site, Mr. Stewart does steal the movie away from everyone. He was a genius. He should be loved for much more than Harvey and It's A Wonderful Life, but people just don't seem to grasp his true genius, which is such a crime. He is one of the finest actors that has ever lived. A brilliant performer.
The two other actors who I feel should be mentioned as providing excellent support are Will Geer and George Kennedy. Both took their thread-bare characters and really made something out of them.
All the good points go to waste, unfortunately, in a boring movie with a thoroughly unsatisfying ending. I certainly applaud a "non-Hollywood" ending, but this one was screwed-up pretty badly, thus removing any impact.
This film is proof, once again, that great actors are only able to soar when the words they speak are worth listening to, and the director provides the right environment for the listening to take place.
A missed opportunity overall, but gets a 4 from me primarily for the superior performance of Mr. James Stewart.
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