If Jerry Lewis is indeed a genius, and one can make a good case for his abilities both as a comedian and as a filmmaker, then The Family Jewels is one of his brain farts. Oh, it's a fine film, a clever combination of the many things that made the former nightclub performer an international superstar. We get slapstick, endless mugging, a child to root for, a similarly styled supporting character, and a gentle sweetness that is definitely missing from today's mainstream laughfests. Lewis didn't want to bombard his audiences with bad taste. Instead, he wanted to make movies that the whole clan could appreciate and The Family Jewels is definitely one of those. It's not on par with The Nutty Professor (and what could be - that film is a near masterpiece of comic timing) and it's definitely not as dull witted or worn as later efforts like Hook, Line and Sinker or Way...Way Out! No, it's right up there with The Errand Boy, Who's Minding the Store, and The Disorderly Orderly.

But there is also a level of obviousness here which does the elastic faced performers a disservice. Lewis loved the archetype, and when given the chance to play an aging sea salt or an effete gentleman, he will take it up several uncomfortable notches. In fact, the various costumes and disguises actually distract from our appreciation of the man. In a movie like The Ladies Man, he is merely playing a version of Jerry Lewis and it's amazing to watch how he works his own persona. With gag noses and buck teeth, it's kiddie matinee time. It's still funny and full of life, but it's pandering, like putting on a mask and making monkey noises. At least Lewis didn't descend into the kind of crude scatology that marks many of today's tired humor ideals. He's borderline, but never really crossing over. The closest we come is when food becomes a part of someone's face, or when a bit of physical shtick lands around the hind quarters. In fact, Lewis famously "quit" filmmaking when he saw one of his movies paired with Deep Throat on a theater marquee. He didn't want his name even remotely associated with something his audience would not find wholesome and acceptable.

Thankfully, this is one of the many films that Lewis directed as well as starred in and his daft deft touch is all over it. This is a man who manipulated celluloid better than any French New Waver or future post-modern moviemaker. He will do anything to wring a bit more enjoyment out of the material. When all the Uncles appear together, he's meticulous in making sure that everyone gets their moment and he always presents his little leading lady in the best possible light -personally and performance wise. He also uses the child as a reflection of his own unique ability to connect with the underage crowd. Kids always loved the larger than life "clown" and this is clearly one of the inspirations for this film. Again, if you want to see why people all over the world love and appreciate the wonderful work of Jerry Lewis, The Family Jewels is a decent place to start. It's not his best, but it shows off his unusual skill set quite well.

THE DVD:
Oddly enough, The Family Jewels was already available on DVD from Paramount as part of a massive digital undertaking of Lewis' incredible catalog. Nine years later, it's out of print and going for big-ish bucks on eBay. Unfortunately, it's impossible to judge whether this manufactured disc from the Warners Archive represents the same transfer or a different (read: better or worse) one. The 1.85:1 image is colorful, sharp and absent major defect. There is a bit of age here and there and no Lewis movie is technically flawless, but for the most part, the image is excellent. The sound situation is simple - Dolby Digital 2.0 Mono which occasionally overmodulates (Lewis likes some of his comedy LOUD!) but, for the most part, is solid. As for added content, this is a made to order effort. Warners has ported over a pointless commentary from the previous Paramount release. We get Lewis and co-host...Steve Lawrence (?) in a talk that offers some insights, but too many gaps in the discussion to make it worth your while. Also,there's a trailer and some minor screen test material as well.That being said, the studios should also start transferring his creative canon to Blu-ray pronto. He deserves it.

FINAL THOUGHTS:
For some, The Family Jewels is Jerry Lewis at his most indulgent. He obviously thinks he is some manner of Alec Guinness or Peter Sellers in essaying multiple roles. Fortunately, he has a lot of fun doing so and the movie itself makes the most of his endearing insanity. Don't expect a masterwork and you won't be disappointed. Recommended.

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