I remember how I wanted to see this movie for years. When I finally saw it there on video, I hired it. It's very funny and a lot of fun. This guy knows funny, although Smorgasboard, that I saw later, is even funnier. Bumbling Lewis, a clown entertainer, who proves true that saying "Once a clown, always a clown" loses his job as the company is shut down. We even see midget, Billy Barty, that constant farting captain from that superior Night Patrol among the troupe. Lewis who stays with his Sister makes a grand entrance, much to the disapproval of his brother in law who among offering him drinks, manages to get him a job at the postal office. But first let go to the jobs prior, that last as long a Kevin Costner Epic. Job 1: Gas station. Jerry actually wipes down the oil cans, etc, inside the gas station, but also causes his first hot customer, who has the hots for him, a bit of car trouble where her and his son are killing themselves. The most forgiving people you'd ever see in this situation. But it's only a movie. Job 2: At the glass factory. We only hear the sounds of glass raining down, or either 99 mirrors shattering, where Jerry, whose obviously caused an insurmountable amount of damage, is gladly escorted back to his car. The other guy's "I knew it" expression, says it all. Job 3: Strip club. Jerry gets a little carried away with the female company, his eyes eating up the dancers, that ends up him, groping one girl's legs. Not staff etiquette. Job 4: My favorite scene has Jerry taking the p..s out of a Japanese sushi chef, equipped with buck teeth and all, working a frier, chopping up onion, unloading a tonne of alfalfa, bean sprouts, onto the grill and successfully cooking a measly strip of meat, ready to serve. He even brought his mini fan to kill off the steam. His unhappy diners, actually jump the grill to smash him, but he fends them off with some laughable judo moves, and a faux accent. The last job has Jerry working at an antique store. He tries to unlock this ball shaped mirror, oh no, not another mirror, for a old woman who talks five hundred words per minute, and can't let Jerry get a word in edgeways. When he finally unlocks a mirror, a tonne of water splashes out and drenches the two. Young or old, Hardly Working is great slapstick and Jerry fits this role with the least amount of effort, backed up by a great supporting cast, and the hot sexy Deanna Lund, who's son of course, doesn't approve of this guy, after seeing him in action at the gas station. After saying goodbye at a tennis game, Lund's car runs over Jerry's feet. Jerry knows how to through constant gags in. That's his genius, and while some may think this movie is stupid, which it is, it's bloody funny nonetheless, and smart if you can grasp Jerry's genius. The film is brought down a little, taking a bit of a turn, in it's last half an hour, losing it's pace, where there's laughs a few. Lewis and his mail driving partner, lumbered with all these rabbits, have to get rid of em. Oh did I mention, the mess and chaos Jerry made in the mail room.
Review of Hardly Working
