The Errand Boy

Rating:
Summary: Innocence in the face of commerce
Review: A knowing and multi-faceted critique of big-studio filmmaking, 'The Errand Boy' is one of Lewis's very best films (it is his third; his fifth, 'The Patsy', can be considered as a sort of sequel). Morty S. Tashman is hired as a spy by the moguls of a major studio because they want to learn how their money is spent. He proves to be a destructive force: just as the prologue had exposed the trickeries and illusions on which Hollywood films thrive, the following 80 minutes show Morty disrupting a few shootings, a voice-recording session, the work of script-girls, and more. He stands as the innocence the producers have lost in trying to make money and please everybody; it is quite easy to read him as 'Lewis the artist'. By the end of the film, Morty has become a Jerry Lewis-like star, proudly saluting his new fans behind dark glasses; he thus seems to have made a place for himself in a world he had previously reduced to pieces. This dichotomy is similar to the one of 'The Bellboy', Lewis's first film as a director: in that movie, the timid, free and inventive bellboy was contrasted with the swagger, aggressiveness and confinement of Lewis playing himself. The brilliant and cyclical final sequence offers an interesting alternative: by having Morty meet a clumsy boy resembling his 'pre-star' self, Lewis assures us that even if some can't escape the studio's mercantile traps, there will always be innocence to be spread in these calculations and falsities. Intelligent, and very funny.

Rating:
Summary: Brilliant Mime Does His Thing
Review: Flawed but generally successful combination of pathos and 1930s slapstick: the most insecure guy on the planet is put in charge of internal security for a (wanna-be) major motion picture company. Jerry provides some of the funniest moments ever captured on film, as he stumbles from one department to the next, first an as an "extra", then as a mailroom delivery person. His attempts to find a quiet spot for lunch are worth the price of admission. But perhaps the best scene is the quietest: he finds himself in the prop department with a miniature clown who "comes to life" - it's a beautifully acted and effectively lit scene. However, there are are numerous elaborate sequences which prove fruitless, and the movie is overlong by about 15 minutes. And the character's ultimate "discovery" by the creative powers-that-be is bizarre in light of the fact that his presence has been unintentionally recorded on celluloid from day one. Despite the lost opportunities, TEB remains on a level with "The Nutty Professor" - a very entertaining and thoughtful effort.

Rating:
Summary: Errand Boy Gets the Job Done
Review: I had never seen this particular Jerry Lewis film until it recently came to DVD and wasn't sure what to expect. What I saw was nearly 90 minutes of the most biting satire I have ever seen propogated against Hollywood and I love it! It is incredible to think that this motion picture was made in 1961, it is more relevant now in many aspects than it was then.

Not only does this film have some of Jerry's best comedy--some of it coming from other actors--but it also features some rather touching dramatic moments.

Rating:
Summary: Some of his best
Review: I rank this #3 in my choice of favorites from him. The Count Basie music in his conference room bit is worth it alone. I see familiar faces in the movie including the guy who sold tribbels in Star Trek. Buy it. You won't regret it. It's a good spoof on how movies are made and some good b/w footage of early hollywood.

Rating:
Summary: ANOTHER FUN LEWIS SOLO ROMP
Review: People seem to either Love Jerry or Hate him. As a kid growing up in the 60's Lewis was always a fave. His juvenile humor and hilarious sight gags were always a treat.

Date? Perhaps, but taken within the context of the early 60's this is still a fun movie. Paramutual Pictures wants to know where all the money is going so they hire Morty to be their spy. Morty works for Mr. Sneak and gets a job in the mail room so that he can have access to the lot. But all that Morty ever finds is that he can cause havoc no matter what he does.

This is probably one of the finest films Jerry Lewis did in the post Martin and Lewis era. In fact, this film is a pretty much a great parody of Hollywood and it manages to poke fun at what really goes on behind the scenes with many of its stars and how a lot of films are really produced.

the funniest scene was the one in the candy store in which Morty is constantly going up and down the ladder getting jelly beans for the three kids and finally explodes when the last kid asks for them. This film is definitely one of Jerry Lewis's best.

Nice Extras including commentary by Lewis as well bloopers and promo spots.

Rating:
Summary: One of Lewis' Best
Review: This is one of his most daring and creative ventures along with The Bellboy. Not much dialogue, just over the top sight gags and general hilarity. What do you people expect? This is Jerry Lewis in top form and it just doesn't get any better.

The only thing funnier than his movies are the ridiculous criticisms of his films. Hello people...this is Jerry Lewis OK! It's too bad that his egocentric persona alienated several generations that didn't grow up looking forward to his next project. The Errand Boy stands alone as one of the most innovative comedies of all time and anyone that can muster some objectivity will appreciate his work for what it is. I personally think this is one of the funniest movies of all time and I rank it as Jerry's best work, although the Academy may disagree. 4 toothpicks