"That Certain Feeling" is unlike many of Bob Hope's films. Sure, Hope makes a few sarcastic comments here and there, but the movie is less a comedy than usual...and that's NOT a bad thing.
When the film begins, you learn that Larry Larkin (George Sanders) is a very successful cartoonist with his 'Snips' cartoon strip. However, over the years, the quality of the strip has dropped and has lost its way. This is likely because Larry has become a big fat-head--more concerned with public relations and his ego than his strip. To help him, his fiancée, Dunreath (Eva Marie Saint), goes out to hire a great cartoonist who can copy Snips and inject life into it...sort of a ghost writer and artist rolled into one. The problem is that Francis (Hope) is Dunreath's ex-husband! Well, although he doesn't want the job, it pays well and he certainly needs the money, so he takes it.
When Francis arrives at Larry's apartment, he sizes up Larry very well almost immediately--the guy is a total jerk. But instead of telling him off and telling him what to do with the job, Francis knuckles under. After all, he has suffered from an odd psychological impairment for years--whenever he gets mad, he gets nauseous. So, to keep from throwing up, Francis goes along with Larry and his stupid demands...and they are pretty stupid. Because it would be good p.r., Larry plans on adopting a cute orphan (Jerry Mathers) and tells Francis to go pick up the kid and show him a good time. Well, Francis and the kid get along great...but Larry is supposed to be the kid's father and Larry seems to only want the kid for photo ops! This, and many other thoughtless things keep building up until the audience knows, sooner or later, Francis is going to explode...nausea or not! While there's much more to the story, I'll say no more as I don't want to spoil it.
I really liked this film...mostly because the characters were enjoyable (even Larry...he was so awful you love to hate him). It's unusual and Mathers was adorable. Overall, a sweet little film with a bit of comedy here and there. Well worth seeing and it's too bad Hope's films of the 1960s lacked the spark you see in this one.
