Main Cast: Jerry Lewis, Herb Edelman, Foster Brooks, Buddy Lester
Release Year: 1983
Country: US
Run Time: 91 minutes
MPAA Rating: PG
Plot
Jerry Lewis reprises his previous movie persona, this time as Warren Nefron, a man unable to successfully kill himself, while Herb Edelman is Dr. Jonas Pletchick, the psychiatrist out to cure him of his failure, in this undistinguished slapstick comedy. Many of Lewis' past routines crop up again through the device of flashbacks, as he sits in the doctor's office and remembers vignettes from his past. As usual, the French love his humor and flocked to see this film when it was first released. ~ Eleanor Mannikka, All Movie Guide
Review
Jerry Lewis's last feature film to date as director is totally informed by his style and comedic obsessions. Unfortunately, Cracking Up is one of his lesser works despite its distinctive approach. The script arranges a variety of setpieces around the thinnest thread of a plot and, as a result, it lives and dies by the quality of these setpieces. Sadly, the results are hit-and-miss: the titles sequence, involving Lewis doing battle with an over-waxed floor, is quite funny but extended gags involving a cheap commuter airline and a swami demanding surgery without anesthesia drag on interminably and offer few laughs in the bargain. Lewis schticks it up as the star, bringing plenty of energy to the goofiest of comedic premises, but his work as director is surprisingly flat: there's none of the visual inventiveness or formal daring that defined earlier classics like The Errand Boy or The Nutty Professor. Thus, Cracking Up is best left to the diehard Lewis fans -- and even they are likely to find it rough going. ~ Donald Guarisco, All Movie Guide
Terry Bousman - Art Director, Jerry Lewis - Director, Gene Fowler, Jr. - Editor, Morton Stevens - Composer (Music Score), Gerald Finnerman - Cinematographer, Peter Nelson - Producer, Arnold H. Orgolini - Producer, Peter Bergman - Screenwriter, Philip Proctor - Screenwriter, Jerry Lewis - Screenwriter, Bill Richmond - Screenwriter
Warren Nefron (Jerry Lewis) is a klutz who cannot do anything right. He tells his psychiatrist, Dr. Pletchick (Herb Edelman), his problems. Through a series of flashbacks the viewer sees Warren's life story.
Warren is such a failure that even his many attempts to commit suicide fail. Eventually the psychiatrist uses hypnosis to cure Warren. However, although Warren is now cured, the psychiatrist has inherited all of Warren's problems.
Production
It includes many cameos, including Sammy Davis Jr., Dick Butkus, and Milton Berle. In December 1982, after filming completed, Lewis underwent triple-bypass heart surgery at the Desert Springs Hospital, Las Vegas NV.
Release
It made its U.S. debut in 1983 directly to cable and on videocassette. In May 1985 it was given a U.S. theatrical premiere during a two-day run at New York's Thalia Theater under its original title, Smorgasbord.
