That's My Boy

That's My Boy was the first film in which people really started to take notice of Jerry Lewis and start classifying him with comedians like Chaplin and Keaton and Langdon. After over 60 years the film still holds up very well because it's got a universal theme, a kid who can't get out from under the shadow of his father.

Jerry is the nervous, spastic, and underachieving kid of former All American Eddie Mayehoff who later went on to be a captain of industry. Mother Ruth Hussey tries to help, but she too is dominated by Mayehoff who can't hear anyone's voice beyond his constant bloviating bellow. The man isn't blind he has to see what kind of kid he raised. Nevertheless he's going to turn Lewis into the next generation Mayehoff and he's got the money to make the attempt. He even pays for school jock Dean Martin to go to college as well and tutor Lewis in the fine arts of being a football hero and big man on campus.

That however interferes with Dino's efforts at courting Polly Bergen who Jerry is also interested in. I think you can see where this is going.

It all culminates as it always does in college pictures in the big football game at the end. Some of the gags are not as well presented as in such films as College Humor, Horsefeathers, and Hold 'Em Jail, still you'll get a few laughs from them.

Dino was shortchanged here. He gets two numbers nothing original just interpolated songs like Ballin' The Jack which he sings and dances with Bergen and I'm In The Mood For Love. Dino is strictly in support of Jerry for the first time.

But Jerry shows some real pathos in That's My Boy and was rightly praised by the critics. This film might have marked the beginning of the end for them as a team.

I can see Jim Carrey doing a remake of this for today's audiences. If not, every nerdy kid in America will identify with Jerry's character in That's My Boy.

"That's My Boy" is among the earliest films of either Jerry Lewis or Dean Martin, and also of their pairing. Lewis hadn't yet developed - or "polished" his over-the-top slapstick and goofiness. Although a comedy, this film has a touch of drama and resembles any number of similar films centered around college sports. The aspect of a star football player helping out another kid who's lacking in talent will be familiar to most who have watched many movies from the mid-20tdh century.

As would be expected, Dean Martin is the grid iron star, Bill Baker. His dad is a poor guy, in poor health, who works for a wealthy, former Ridgeville College star, Jarring Jack Jackson. He is still the picture of health and healthy living in middle age and is a successful big businessman. Now he's a big benefactor for the college. And, as long-time movie buffs will know or be able to imagine, it's he who has the weak son, physically. Naturally, that's Jerry Lewis. But, his Junior Jackson likes football and would like to play. So, with Bill's help (and dad's money) he makes the team.

The best comedy in this film comes from Eddie Mayehoff who plays Jarring Jack Jackson. He does the blustery, "they don't make 'em like me anymore" character superbly. Naturally there's a girl or two - Marion Marshall plays Terry Howard and Polly Bergen is Babs Hunter. I really didn't recognize Bergen as a 21-year-old in this film. This was just her fifth film.

There aren't many laughs in this film. Football fans will get a kick out of the action scenes on the field, including Junior's goofs and glory. This doesn't have the depth of a real sports drama such as "Brian's Song," or "The Pride of the Yankees" or any number of other mostly bio-pic sports films. Without that, it needed more comedy than it has to put it over as a very good film. It's one of the lesser Dean Martina and Jerry Lewis efforts.

But for the performances of Mayehoff as Junior's dad, and Ruth Hussey as his mother, Ann Jackson, this film would rate one star fewer. Jackson has a slogan sign in his office that reads, ""Guts is what counts." Here are the better lines in the film.

Jarring Jack Jackson, "Since when does the former Olympic women's swimming champ get out of breath?" Ann Jackson, "As of now."

Jarring Jack, "And don't call me sir. It sounds like I'm training you to be an English butler."

Bill Baker, "Cyrano de Bergerac? Didn't he play end for Cornell?"

Jarring Jack, "Is there anything worse?" Ann Jackson, "Yes. He could've been a criminal." Jarring Jack, "That wouldn't have been so bad. Then at least we could've sent him away and no one would know."

Jarring Jack, "Ann, are you sure he's our son?" Ann Jackson, "Oh, stop it, Jack. He was born at home."

Jarring Jack, "Of course, you can't pass like me, or run like me. You don't hit the line like I used to, but you remind me a little of me." Bill Baker, "Well, there'll never be another you, sir." Jackson, "Thank you, son."

"Gotta hit 'em low, hit 'em hard, and if they get up, hit 'em again. Gotta play GUTS football!" Poor Junior Jackson (Lewis) is the weak, uncoordinated, allergy-prone son of Jarring Jack Jackson, former Ridgeville football alum now trying to relive his collegiate days of glory through Junior. Studly Bill Baker (Martin) becomes the dorm-mate Jackson arranges to mentor Junior in football and other aspects of, uh, manhood. The plot is fairly predictable, but this is one hilarious movie about father-son relationships, college life, football, manhood, friendship, and girls (not in that particular order.) Martin & Lewis were never better together, along with a superb supporting cast. A classic comedy with heart.

This is a somewhat funny movie with one serious flaw in it....Jerry Lewis's voice!....it was so irritating I had to turn the volume down....he talks with a half baby boy half nerd voice that gets under your skin....in his next few movies he had the same voice but not quite as bad,but in this one its so over the top it ruins any humor in that scene....and many times when he is talking he sounds like he is about to cry...I kept wishing Dean Martin would just land one clean punch when he started his whining....his next movie Sailors Beware was much better...simply too much Junior....and of course its always fun to see Jerry Lewis before he greased up his hair and transformed himself into Dean Martin.

That's My Boy (1951)

** 1/2 (out of 4)

Junior Jackson (Jerry Lewis) is a weak nerd who just happens to be the son of Jarring Jackson (Eddie Mayehoff) who was a star football player. The father knows his boy is a weak loser but he makes him get on a college football team and he pays for Bill Baker (Dean Martin) to go in hopes that he can turn his boy into a real man.

THAT'S MY BOY isn't the greatest comedy that you're going to see but there are enough good moments in it to make it worth watching. It's funny going through these Martin & Lewis comedies because their films were pretty much like several famous comedy duos before them. One film would deal with college. Another film might deal with Hollywood. Other subjects would include horror elements and of course they would feature both music and laughs. This film isn't among the better Martin & Lewis pictures but it's worth watching if you're a fan of theirs.

I think the highlight of the picture happens with the songs that Martin is allowed to do. Martin gets two different songs but "I'm in the Mood for Love" was certainly the best and also the highlight of the picture. As for Martin, that's pretty much all he has to do as his character doesn't appear that much in the film. He does get to do a drunken spill towards the end and of course he would master this later in his career. Lewis is pretty much what you'd expect as he plays that weak, dimwitted character like very few could. Ruth Hussey adds some nice support as does Polly Bergen and John McIntire in their small roles. Mayehoff is also very good in his role as the strong father.

THAT'S MY BOY doesn't contain enough laughs to make it what I'd consider a "good" movie but at the same time there's no question that fans of the duo will enjoy it.