What a Way to Go!
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Movie Reviews of What a Way to Go!
Movie Review: What A Way To Have Fun!
Summary: 5 Stars
The epitome of fluffy 60's escapism with Shirley MacLaine at her kooky best and a dream cast of leading men sending up their screen images. Add to this a big budget, the most outrageous costumes of an outrageous era, and a witty script by Comden and Green that blends romance, satire, slapstick and just a pinch of cynicism. It's big and overblown and all the better for it. And I'm glad to report that it looks fantastic on this dvd in widescreen and vibrant color.
Shirley MacLaine made several screwball comedies in the 60's such as Woman Times Seven, John Goldfarb Please Come Home, and The Bliss Of Mrs Blossom, but What A Way To Go is one of the best. She is helped immeasurably by a galaxy of stars portraying the men in her life - smooth and oily Dean Martin, rubber-faced and loose-limbed Dick Van Dyke, bearded and self-spoofing Paul Newman, surprisingly charming Robert Mitchum, the always delightful Gene Kelly, and a somewhat manic Robert Cummings. As an added treat, the Marx Brothers' old foil Margaret Dumont is wonderfully over-the-top as MacLaine's dragon of a mother. You just don't get casts like that anymore.
Another nice touch is the way several genres of film are spoofed as MacLaine wistfully recalls the best days of each of her marriages. The musical extravaganza with Gene Kelly, in particular, is a real joy. Kelly was over 50 but still had all the moves while MacLaine reminds us what a fantastic dancer she was - with equally fantastic legs. I also loved Paul Newman as the world-weary abstract artist. Many people forget that he made a number of comedies way back when, and that he was pretty good in them.
What A Way To Go was not a big hit when it was released, primarily because it was made at a time when the emphasis was on youth and this film was seen as an instant relic that would appeal only to the Doris Day/Rock Hudson crowd. How wrong they were. Forty years on, What A Way To Go is still fresh and funny, unlike many other Swinging 60's comedies.
Other reviewers on here have mentioned films they would like to see released on dvd. I'll add an old, little-seen favorite of mine - The Art Of Love with James Garner and Dick Van Dyke. Well, I can hope, can't I? In the meantime, I think I'll watch What A Way To Go again.
Movie Review: Silly, empty headed fun - like cotton candy for the brain!
Summary: 5 Stars
I must begin by saying that I am not a fan of Shirley MacLaine's early work. Her speaking voice is shrill, and I think the raves were mainly for her body. So it is worth noting that I LOVE "What a Way to Go." When an actress has a big name and longevity, there is ONE movie that you can point to and say, "Watch this movie, and you will know why she is a star." I feel this movie is that movie for Miss MacLaine.
She sings, she dances - move for move with Gene Kelly - and she carries this movie entirely on her frequently bare back. She throws herself 100% into every ridiculous costume change and situation, always self possessed, but not self concious. Here, her body is certainly made use of, the take-off on french art films is equally silly, sexy, and laughable ... but her over the top performance and humor lifts it all above the air-headed plot.
The film itself gets kudos from me because, like Miss MacLaine, it knows exactly what it is, is comfortable with that, and can laugh at itself. When she says, "it's like one of those big budget movies, all about love and what will she wear next" we know that there are no pretentions here. That is what THIS movie is. It is the quinessential movie celebrating being a GIRL. It also happens to pinpoint a rare moment in movie history between the tough women, and when the boys took over. It deserves it's very special pink DVD box. It is that unique.
Silly, slapstick, sometimes trying WAY too hard, but a great kick off your shoes, pile up the popcorn treat.
Movie Review: WHAT A WAY TO GO! is just too much fun.
Summary: 5 Stars
You know when you open the pink plastic DVD case that you're in for a Sixties treat. That they don't make star-studded films like this any longer is part of the charm of WHAT A WAY TO GO! Take Shirley MacLaine (whom I could enjoy reading the phone book)and mix in Paul Newman, Robert Mitchum, Dean Martin, Gene Kelley, Dick Van Dyke (all playing her various husbands, who are or become obsessed with success and wealth, although most don't live particularly long!)and Bob Cummings as her psychiatrist, then throw in some really showy MacLaine costumes by Edith Head, a song-and-dance number here and there, and you have a really enjoyable, entertaining film. (Note Margaret Dumont, Groucho Marx's favorite straight lady, as MacLaine's mother.)This film is like cotton candy: not very nutritious but more fun than vegetables. So after watching 24-hour depressing world news or some soap-opera-like movie-of-the-week on child abuse or wife beating, cleanse yourself by popping in What A Way To Go! and just enjoy this stylish and, frankly, silly film. And, speaking of pink, the Gene Kelly episode, in which MacLaine and everything around her is pink, will make us thankful that color film was invented in the first place. And did I mention the pink plastic DVD case?
Movie Review: "Our life is frittered away by detail.... Simplify, simplify." Henry David Thoreau.
Summary: 5 Stars
Louisa May (with a string of last names) is on the physiatrist couch explaining her life as a series of flashbacks seeing it as a series of movies.
Louisa May Foster (Shirley MacLaine) comes from a family of modest means, her mother (Margaret Dumont), with dollar signs in her eyes, figures it is beset for Loisa May to marry Lenni Crawley (Dean Martin) whose father owns the town.
Louisa could car less about money, especially Linni's insufferable attitude, and wants love. So she marries for love and each time after what looks like an ideal life, an unforeseen circumstance enriches $$$$ her husbands and causes their demise. Try as she may she can not change the pattern.
Can the physiatrist (Bob Cummings) help?
Is she destined to be a rich widow?
And what became of Lenni?
Movie Review: Every Time
Summary: 5 Stars
Every time i find this movie on tv i find it 5 minutes to ending. I am so happy it is finally being released on video. I saw this movie probably when i was in about 5th grade and i fell in love with it and still am at the age of 17. The movie is hilariously funny with shirley mclaine not wanting to marry this rich snob because she thinks hes full of himself. Instead she falls in love with a poor man who happens to get rich and keels over. She marries again and again and each time the same thing happens. It is a great classic movie and i am so excited it is finally out. If you are willing to check this movie out i suggest it very much so.