What a Way to Go!
by J. Lee Thompson
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DVD Cover Information
Actor: Dean Martin, Gene Kelly, Paul Newman, Robert Mitchum, Shirley MacLaineDirector: J. Lee Thompson
Brand: MACLAINE,SHIRLEY
Cinematographer: Leon Shamroy
Editor: Marjorie Fowler
Editor: Pat Shade
Producer: Arthur P. Jacobs
Writer: Adolph Green
Writer: Betty Comden
Writer: Gwen Davis
DVD: Region Code 1
Audio: English (Unknown), Dolby Digital 1.0; English (Subtitled); Spanish (Subtitled); English (Original Language), Dolby Digital 1.0; French (Original Language)
Format: Closed-captioned, Color, DVD, NTSC
Picture Format: 2.35:1
Running Time: 111 minutes
DVD Release Date: 2005-01-11
Audience Rating: NR (Not Rated)
Studio: 20th Century Fox
Movie Reviews of What a Way to Go!
Movie Review: 5 stars is just an average
Summary: 5 Stars
Depending on the angle you view it from, this film deserves anywhere from 1 to 10 stars. It's MacLaine and Maclaine alone who rescues this bizarre-yet-entertaining hodge-podge from embarrassment. In reality, she rescued the film itself from oblivion, since it was originally created as a Monroe vehicle and was supposed to be plenty darker. One can imagine, given the basics of the plot, just how dark it could have become. In its original form, with Marilyn Monroe starring, this could have been one of her best films.
No worry, this flick is an entirely different story. Briefly: nice, sincere, simple gal--against wishes of mom, marries series of simple-life guys who strike it rich and die--with a variation or two on that theme. The plot lacks a Pilgrim's Progress quality which makes the MacLaine character seem more like she's caught in a crazy pointless time loop than advancing spiritually (a possible reading of the movie!). Weirdly, she doesn't need to advance spiritually; she knows exactly what she wants and what she wants is good. This makes her character extremely appealing and the rest of the movie awkward and lumpy. The good bits, and there are many, clearly belong to Compden and Green who were brought in to kick this up a bit. Good choice.
It doesn't help me personally that 3--count 'em--3 of my least favorite male actors from that era play various husbands. Dean Martin is always unpleasant to watch; a minute of him and I've got hair grease and slime all over everything in my living room. Dick Van Dyke was one of the un-funniest comedians of all time (he should have been shot for his work on Mary Poppins), a complete ham, yet he puts in a forgivable, even fine, performance in this flick as a Thoreau-reading unambitious shop-owner who overnight turns into workaholic Mr. Wal Mart. Actually, this might be the funniest I've ever seen him be. That segment should be shown in every business school in the nation.
Worst of all is Gene Kelly, another ham, possibly King of Hams (who should have been shot for his inability to act in Inherit the Wind--nearly single-handedly wrecking an otherwise terrific movie), who seems barely aware that anyone is on camera with him (there is absolutely no electricity between him and Maclaine) and then transforms into a superstar egomaniac in the story. What might have been ironic with another actor is just annoying with this chump. Kelly existed solely to prove to the world what an amazing and classy actor/dancer/comedian/entertainer Fred Astaire was and Astaire would have been far more believable in this part. Astaire lampoons himself in "Bandwagon" and it's charming and endearing.
Paul Newman also hams it up way too much as an wacko artist one reviewer thinks is based on Jackson Pollock. Wrongo. A sign of the weird hip-ness of this movie is he's based on junk artist Jean Tinguley and as if to prove this, a character resembling Tinguley's girlfriend--artist Nicki de St.Phalle--is seen creating a painting by shooting at balloons filled with paint-- just as de St. Phalle once did. Newman's only tolerable--his is a bad parody of a modern artist and it's also hopelessly out-of-date for 1964. Robert Mitchum fills in for the too-expensive Sinatra and it shows. Ive never gotten the impression that Mitchum even tried to act. It's disturbing--all these men (characters and actors) in the MacLaine character's life and she outshines every one in every respect.
That, then, gets to the point. this is her film and it was designed to showcase all her talent and charm. She does everything from song and dance, to high and low comedy. At one point she walks into a swimming pool scene wearing an outrageous backless bikini and looks breathtaking--demonstrating for all time that sex appeal does not have to rely on vamping or pneumatics (an ironic point given who she replaced). The script uses every opportunity to get her out of her clothes and she doesn't seem to mind. Feminists could have an international conference on this film and post-modern readings should abound. Her character is strong and willful, self-confident and sexually healthy, but she keeps meeting these "great guys" (played by jerks) who, over and over, shove her in the kitchen or treat her as a trophy wife (Maybe it's not just coincidence that so many vile male actors are in this?). They all die, as they should, except one, and the jury could be out for months on what that's all about. As lumpy and itchy as this film is, it's absolutely fascinating. Visually, it's a stunner with terrific sets and props. It's worth the price just to see the mansion where everything, inside and out, is painted pink.
With all that said, I heartily recommend it but be ready for a strange experience. I expect over time this movie might clarify as a vaguely subversive film (Compden and Greene had that bomb-throwing anarchist streak in them) and I look forward to repeat viewings. Shirley Maclaine is just spectacular from beginning to end and for that alone this film is worth the price.
Summary of What a Way to Go!
No Description Available.Genre: Feature Film-Comedy
Rating: NR
Release Date: 11-JAN-2005
Media Type: DVD
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