Should a widow with eight children marry a widower with ten? Well, yes, if the lady is played by Lucille Ball. This movie is heavily dependent on Ms. Ball, who manages to carry the film on her comic shoulders. It's nice to see an older actress playing a beautiful, romantic leading role; and, watching Ball is the main attraction, after all these years. The situation is something different than anything she would do on television, at the time. Herein, there are subtle, snickering sex (and drug) jokes.
Mostly, you get to see how Ball and Henry Fonda (as Helen and Frank Beardsley) manage merging their reluctant offspring. This situation plays better than "The Lucy Show" meets "The Brady Bunch" (that latter show must have been inspired, at least in part, by the success of this film). The earlier "courtship" scenes are sweeter, and funnier, than the remainder of the film.
In a large cast of children, it's difficult to stand out - unless the script gives you something to do. Tim Matheson (as Mike) and Eric Shea (as Phillip) are the luckiest recipients. And, Jennifer Leak (as Colleen) gets to fend off Ben Murphy, her "frustrated, sex maniac" boyfriend.
****** Yours, Mine and Ours (4/24/68) Melville Shavelson ~ Lucille Ball, Henry Fonda, Tim Matheson, Van Johnson
Mostly, you get to see how Ball and Henry Fonda (as Helen and Frank Beardsley) manage merging their reluctant offspring. This situation plays better than "The Lucy Show" meets "The Brady Bunch" (that latter show must have been inspired, at least in part, by the success of this film). The earlier "courtship" scenes are sweeter, and funnier, than the remainder of the film.
In a large cast of children, it's difficult to stand out - unless the script gives you something to do. Tim Matheson (as Mike) and Eric Shea (as Phillip) are the luckiest recipients. And, Jennifer Leak (as Colleen) gets to fend off Ben Murphy, her "frustrated, sex maniac" boyfriend.
****** Yours, Mine and Ours (4/24/68) Melville Shavelson ~ Lucille Ball, Henry Fonda, Tim Matheson, Van Johnson