Freaktana A Major Disappointment

Dynamixor The performances transcend the film's tropes, grounding it in characters that feel more complete than this subgenre often produces.

ThrillMessage There are better movies of two hours length. I loved the actress'performance.

Erica Derrick By the time the dramatic fireworks start popping off, each one feels earned.

dougdoepke No need to recap the zany plot. The 2-hours plus comes across more as a comedy of moments than a successful whole. The first part is the best. Lemmon was a perfect actor for white-collar comedy, and those moments when his addled Sam struggles with his ad-agency job amount to a perfect fit. The trouble is the screenplay stretches the clever premise into segments of varying quality. At the same time, it appears director Swift hasn't much feel for comedy that could perhaps finesse the bumpy parts. Then too, I get an impression the stretching was done to promote TV's Connors and Provine, along with French actress Schneider. The two girls are quite charming in their roles. Still, it's really up to Lemmon to furnish the links of amusement, but not all play to his strengths, especially the frantic chase scene. I'm still chuckling, however, over Sam's sleep habits, the ad that can't put anyone in the driver's seat, and a vacuum cleaner with an eye at the top. And , oh yes, that sudden shower door scene every guy longs for. Good also to see veteran trouper Ed Robinson picking up a payday. Anyway, the movie's very much in the upbeat suburban style of the 1950's. Unfortunately, its 1964 release date is swimming against the emerging dark undercurrents of Vietnam. So it probably soon went into cultural eclipse. Nonetheless, the flick's still a chance to catch one our best comedic talents in action. It may not be among his best, but does have its moments.

jayz755 I guess I liked this better than its contemporary Kiss Me Stupid, which featured similar partner swapping. This is not saying that much. I was disgusted with Kiss Me Stupid, but it was better paced than Good Neighbor Sam. 2 hours plus is just too long for a one note plot. Some repetitive scenes and back lot filming can give this one a sitcommy feel. The ad agency part of the movie is more or less dropped near the end (though I suppose Lemmon's character no longer cared about his job at that point.) The "manic" ending is one of the least compelling ending sequences I've seen.Postives would be that Romy Schneider's quite pretty and there is some good San Francisco location work amid the back lot and rear projection scenes. Points also for casting an African American as an authority figure, without commentary, in 1964.Fans of Lemmon's comedy work should check out the earlier Operation Mad Ball, which I do approve of.

bobvend The great Jack Lemmon is in top form here, along with a fine supporting cast in a frantic farce that gives wife-swapping a comic spin. Just as Lemmon's character's ad agency is about to lose its biggest account, he gets tapped to salvage the deal with the client, who happens to like Lemmon's virtuous, clean-living persona. This should be a cinch for him, as he is a happily-married suburbanite with a lovely wife and family; he exudes the exact qualities the client is looking for in an ad exec. But things become very complicated very fast when his wife's sexy best friend suddenly moves next door to them. The confusion is helped along by wary relatives, spies, ex-husbands, and a few ducks.As clever as it is silly, it's very easy to enjoy if one is a fan of the genre. Surprisingly lacking in sexual innuendo (although the situations allow ample opportunity for it), the film sails along with good energy which holds up almost to the end. Those expecting a big payoff in the finale will be let down a bit, but it's nonetheless a worthwhile and enjoyable slice of '60's humor.

kyle_furr I could describe the plot of the movie but i never like doing that since everyone already does it. Jack lemmon is good as usual and its nice to edward g. robinson in a role like this. Romy schneider is gorgeous in this movie. The movie starts out good but towards the end it just feels like it goes overboard with the sort of slapstick comedy.