ShangLuda
Admirable film.
Dynamixor
The performances transcend the film's tropes, grounding it in characters that feel more complete than this subgenre often produces.
Merolliv
I really wanted to like this movie. I feel terribly cynical trashing it, and that's why I'm giving it a middling 5. Actually, I'm giving it a 5 because there were some superb performances.
MartinHafer
"Way...Way Out" is an unusual Jerry Lewis film mostly because it isn't really a comedy. Sure, it has a few laughs here and there, but the overall effect is more like a commentary about the Cold War than a funny film. To put it bluntly, it isn't particularly funny--though it is interesting.The film is set in the near future. There is an American and Russian base on the Moon and both are quite small--with two persons in each. As for the American base, the men aboard keep going crazy--presumably because they cannot function without women. But, the Russians have sent a man-woman team and their base is functioning much better. So, the head of the American space agency (an oddly cast Robert Morley) has determined that the next team going to the station will be married. The problem is that the next man scheduled to go (Jerry Lewis) is single and has no particular plans to marry. But, when told they want him to marry a pretty lady (Connie Stevens), he's in favor of the idea--but she isn't. So, the pair agree to go and to marry but not to consummate the marriage. The rest of the film is basically waiting until Stevens changes her mind. In between there is a pretty silly (and forgettable) plot involving the two Russians (Dick Shawn and Anita Ekberg).The bottom line is that the film lacks laughs but is also inoffensive and an interesting look into the times in which it was made. A must for Lewis fans--otherwise, an inoffensive time-passer and nothing more.By the way, I am not sure why but if you watch the veteran actor Sig Ruman closely, you can tell his voice is dubbed. Perhaps he had trouble doing the Russian accent credibly.
nickrogers1969
I love crazy sixties films and this is one of them. I'm not a Jerry Lewis fan but I thought he was funny, not over the top or exaggerating. Connie Stevens is very cute in the American girl next door kind of way.Anita Ekberg surprised me. It was so bizarre that this La Dolce Vita star would team up with Jerry Lewis but she did, and it proves she was a good comedienne too. In this film she's a brunette (awful hairdo, tho) and looks not a little like Garbo! The poor thing has to wear bathing suits the entire film. Robert Morley is in it too and is as lovable British as ever. He could make any part he played lively and fun. James Brolin and Linda Harrison (Planet of the Apes) are in it too, as is Dennis Weaver. The special effects are quite good for 1966 and quite camp for today. The title tune by Lalo Schifrin is catchy. I saw this on a German DVD in English with the soundtrack at times changing to German at times. Really bizarre to see Jerry Lewis in space in German!
SanDiego
"Austin Powers" spoofed spy films of the sixties and this film is somewhat in that vein except "Way... Way Out" was made from a sixties perspective, not a nineties perspective. Also, this film spoofed a sacred cow, the space program (Disney's "Moon Pilot" in 1962 covered much of this territory already and if you like one you'll probably like the other...though very few people have heard of either). Any fan of the sixties will recognize likeable Brian Keith (he also starred in "Moon Pilot"), sophisticated Robert Morley, leggy bombshell Anita Ekberg, frumpy character actor Milton Frome, studly James Brolin, wacky Howard Morris, even wackier Dick Shawn, and forever Chester, Dennis Weaver. Jerry Lewis of course is the star and delicious Connie Stevens (who Jerry introduced in the must superior "Rock-a-Bye Baby") is the eye candy. By today's standards one might consider the casting of the actresses for their physical attributes a bit sexist (like that doesn't happen today) but this is a physical comedy and placing Connie Stevens among a group of men (men always have sex on their mind don't you know) is not really all that sexist (at least not for the women). Connie Stevens success has been that she's a good comedian too. Some of the comedy is Benny Hill style (or "Austin Powers") but not crude like contemporary films "Something About Mary" or "Scary Movie."
yenlo
Although Jerry Lewis is the star of this mid 60's spoof of the space program he gets plenty of help in providing the comedy. A good supporting cast make this an enjoyable comedy film.Howard Morris's character Schmidlapp a sex starved American astronaut who's been stationed on the moon far too long is perhaps the best of all. When he sees the gorgeously cute Connie Stevens he loses it. "Maybe she's one of those girls who soaps herself all over..and...then ...gets...into the tub" he tells fellow astronauts Lewis and Dennis Weaver who are wondering how Stevens takes a bath. The late Dick Shawn and Brian Keith are also featured. Like Gilligans Island "Your sure to get a smile" when you see this movie.
