I'm honestly disappointed, less because I had expectations and more because I could see the outline of a movie that would have worked. And it would, if it sticked to anything.
I honestly can't tell what the main aim was, if they wanted to make more of a romantic comedy or a screwball. It might've worked, undefined as is, but it's not charming enough to pull that off. I'll try to summarize what I found to be wrong (or just the main points):
There's not enough developement in Irma and Jane's relationship. They both do some questionable stuff to each other and the lack of warmth makes it hard to understand why they'd want to stick together in the end. Maybe they thought the radio show made that dispensable? Maybe the chemistry just didn't show to me.
The romantic plot is wild. For all the acting skills in the planet Diana Lynn couldn't make Jane a compelling character. Though, this isn't a movie that has enough space for engagement with the characters, which reminds me
There's an overbalance of comic reliefs, and none of them seem to be in the same plane. Irma is supposed to be the main one as a lovable buffoon, but Al gets more jokes as a slimy crook than her. The boss gets to be one when he's drunk, in fact, the whole love triangle situation could be considered one. And of course there's Seymour, who has simultaneously the best and most disconnected comedy of the story.
The thing that not only stands out, but possibly makes the film worth watching are Martin and Lewis. Together they're perfect, but even separatedly they steal the show beautifully. Dean's an enchanting love interest and plays well with Diana, even though her character's conflict is paper thin at best. Jerry is a little restricted, but even that doesn't make any of his bits worse. Watching Dean and Jerry together here gives a glimpse of what this movie could have achieved if the plot wasn't so devoid of focus.
And it's a shame that this didn't work better, because the idea of Dean as the main love interest and additionally half of the comic relief to an uptight and a zany gal protagonists sounds lovely. But it doesn't fit that well here, when the only thing that seems to work in the story is them.
None of the acting in the film is bad, but sometimes it looked like we were supposed to be seeing a crossover rather than the same story. As a sitcom that would be fine, but as a full fledged narrative it doesn't sit well. The type of humour is too varied between the characters, and so when you see Seymour in a scene with Irma and Al the dissonance is grating rather than entertaining. Even when they aren't in the same scene, to be honest.
I enjoyed some parts moderatedly, but I can't say this is a good movie overall. I know for a fact that I wouldn't have watched it if not for Dean and Jerry, but one can't get rid of the feeling they were shoehorned all the same.
