In his third film appearance as the lovable bumbling Norman, Norman Wisdom is a file clerk who becomes a delegate to a diplomatic conference, befriends the queen of a remote island, and winds up a knight. Wisdom's movie Norman became a knight nearly half a century before the Queen knighted Norman himself. "Man of the Moment" follows an episodic internal logic that provides Wisdom with ample opportunity to display his slapstick skills. Norman leaves rooms in shambles, tailors in shreds, and diplomats in bandages. His tea service at a government strategy meeting is hysterically priceless. Chased by gunmen, Norman runs through active TV studio sets and interrupts various programs and performances in progress; the results are inspired and funny. Meanwhile, Norman rarely looses his broad smile and cheerful demeanor.
A Tony nominee for his Broadway appearance in the musical "Walking Happy," Wisdom has a fine robust singing voice and delivers three pleasant songs herein. Despite a tedious extended bomb-in-suitcase sequence that is more scary than funny, the movie moves. Norman has two love interests, Sonia, the unattainable blonde goddess, and Penny, the down-to-earth girl that he initially annoys. "Man of the Moment" has all the essential ingredients for a pleasant 85 minutes of entertainment: music, love, comedy, and, above all, Norman Wisdom.
