Probably not a comedic masterpiece, but there's enough here to make 'The Caddy' entertaining. You have Jerry Lewis's zany shtick with his voice and body, of course, and also Dean Martin crooning a couple of tunes, including 'That's Amore.' Many top golfers from the day appear and get more than brief cameos, including Ben Hogan, Sam Snead, and Byron Nelson. Donna Reed does as well, in the same year as her Oscar win for 'From Here to Eternity,' though her part is pretty simple.
The slapstick is more amusing than outrageously funny, but the way Lewis slips into accents and makes the most out of every scene, showing such attention to detail, is impressive. There's also a small examination of class here, when the caddy finds himself housed with the caddies/servants and his buddy (also from a humble background, but now sipping cocktails with the wealthy) begins to look down on him.
The oft-talked about relationship between Lewis and Martin off the screen is fascinating in the context of this film, since it shows Lewis's character (the caddy) desperately trying to please Martin's (the golfer), mirroring real life, and the pair were apparently beginning to fracture by 1953. Talk about homoeroticism, the caddy assumes the role of a jealous wife when he cooks dinner and the golfer is out late and doesn't come home on time. He dances the women's role in their stage performance, and acts the ineffectual effete while performing 'The Gay Continental.'
Overall: it's old school comedy, clearly influential to performers like Robin Williams and Adam Sandler but which may seem tame by today's standards, and there are some show tunes mixed in. Nothing sizzles here, with the exception of 'That's Amore,' but it was light and made me smile.
The slapstick is more amusing than outrageously funny, but the way Lewis slips into accents and makes the most out of every scene, showing such attention to detail, is impressive. There's also a small examination of class here, when the caddy finds himself housed with the caddies/servants and his buddy (also from a humble background, but now sipping cocktails with the wealthy) begins to look down on him.
The oft-talked about relationship between Lewis and Martin off the screen is fascinating in the context of this film, since it shows Lewis's character (the caddy) desperately trying to please Martin's (the golfer), mirroring real life, and the pair were apparently beginning to fracture by 1953. Talk about homoeroticism, the caddy assumes the role of a jealous wife when he cooks dinner and the golfer is out late and doesn't come home on time. He dances the women's role in their stage performance, and acts the ineffectual effete while performing 'The Gay Continental.'
Overall: it's old school comedy, clearly influential to performers like Robin Williams and Adam Sandler but which may seem tame by today's standards, and there are some show tunes mixed in. Nothing sizzles here, with the exception of 'That's Amore,' but it was light and made me smile.