My Friend Irma

Solid if unspectacular movie that is of interest mainly for being the debut of Dean Martin & Jerry Lewis. As a beginning piece for the duos body of work it does set something of a standard, a kind of benchmark niche as it were, Martin sings and gets to woo the sexy lady whilst Jerry clowns around and gets the laughs, not that there are too many laughs to be had here because there isn't that many if one is honest. Yet the film still has a 40s charm with it's array of interesting characters that never stretch to annoying limits, performances are steady from all involved, and as a romantic comedy it is well worth a watch, and not least because it has a very interesting segment about who should be the bigger name of the two out of Masrtin & Lewis........now that one makes for quite a story some way down the line wink wink. 5/10 and worth a watch on its own merit for fans of cheeky charm 40s rom-coms, and of course for Martin/Lewis completists like me.

Irma (Marie Wilson) is a ditsy woman whose antics made Gracie Allen seem like an Einstein. Marie Wilson's dumb routine is one you'll either find funny or terribly annoying--I know it got on my nerves a bit after a while. However, even if you find this a bit tiresome, it's worth seeing just since it's the screen debut of the comedy team of Dean Martin & Jerry Lewis.

The film opens with Jane (the ever-cute Diana Lynn) narrating and describing her annoying roommate, Irma. Now considering just how annoying Irma is, you do wonder why Jane has anything to do with her--especially since her long-term fiancé, Al, is a greasy user (John Lund).

Al has just discovered a musical talent (Dean Martin) working with his friend (Jerry Lewis) at a local orange juice bar and although he knows NOTHING about the entertainment industry, lies and tells Martin he can make him a star! And, Al just assumes he can take advantage of Jane and get her to help put up Steve and Seymour (Martin & Lewis) in the tiny apartment. Naturally, you assume that after an inauspicious introduction that Jane and Steve will become sweethearts. However, Jane's new boss, Mr. Rhinelander (Don Defore), has ideas about her as well.

Al is able to actually help Steve by getting him a variety of engagements at restaurants and nightclubs--which is a bit surprising. With his beautiful voice, his success isn't all that surprising but what is surprising (in the film and in real life) is that people liked seeing and hearing his partner sing as well! So, a few times Steve's great songs are interrupted or 'enhanced' by Seymour's antics. Considering I usually hate musical numbers in comedies, the fact that I just wanted to hear Dean Martin's singing is a testament to his skills--as well as Lewis'! Some liked Jerry's singing...though to me it was just painful...very, very painful--though in real life Lewis did have a nice singing voice when not hamming it up.

As for the acting, I liked John Lund--he was pretty funny though not exactly subtle. Martin and Lynn were also good. As for Wilson and Lewis...well, they are more an acquired taste. I've seen Jerry Lewis better--and more subtle. As for Wilson...she's pretty much the ditz I saw her as in other films. The less said the better. The film, despite its limitations, is enjoyable and worth seeing if you are an old time comedy fan--though it's far from Martin & Lewis' best. Not great but it sure has its moments.

By the way, this film has a sequel, "My Friend Irma Goes West", and it's not surprising, as "My Friend Irma" ends BEFORE the plot is fully resolved--showing they must have known they'd do a sequel before they even finished the first film!

This is one of my 2nd favorite Jerry Lewis and Dean Martin movies the only one that is better is The Caddy. This movie was also the first of D/M & J/L that I had ever seen. It's quiet little movie but with so many good songs and lots and lots of great laughs by Jerry and a couple of laughs from Irma. This comes highly recommended by me and I hope that you see it after you've read my comment. 9/10

Beautiful Diana Lynn makes this a fun show. Interesting to see NYC in those days, so different from now. First film for Martin and Lewis, they looked so young.

Dean martin, jerry lewis. But they don't get top billing, this was their first splash in the movies! John lund, diana lynn, and don defore get the lead positions in this hal wallis production. Lots going on in this silly one. Irma's boyfriend thinks he can make singers out of steve and seymour. But of course, they are all sharing one little apartment, so they get on each other's nerves. And irma goes overboard trying to keep her new job. It's fun, but pretty silly. It started as a radio show, and was adapted to a full length film. And even has a sequel "my friend irma goes west". If you're not in the right mood, i can see where it would get on your nerves! Seems to be where jerry lewis started using that high pitched, annoying baby voice he used for so long (too long!) Some innerastin production notes in the imdb trivia section. And keep an eye out for professor kropotkin, in front of the restaurant; hans conried was doctor terwiliker in 5000 fingers, and did the voices for the hobbit, snidely whiplash, and captain hook. It's pretty good, as long as you are in the mood for it! Directed by george marshall.