The World's Greatest Lover

A loud, 90-minute sketch.

Some very funny scenes, but the constant mugging is overkill, and even fans of Wilder's trademark outbursts might find the repetition tiresome. The usual deficiencies in writing (Wilder desperately needed a collaborator) and directing (slightly stilted staging and uneven pacing) are present, although they are less bothersome than in his later work. As a farcical tribute to the silent era, it definitely has its moments, and the dedication to Fellini is cute.

One or two good laughs, and a whole lot of boring filler. I know Wilder could have done a better job in the writing and directing, he was either off his game or lost his streak. I also have a strange attraction to Carol Kane, don't know why.