Screen legend Jerry Lewis returns to the big screen in the new drama “Max Rose,” playing a recent widower, adjusting to his new life. NY1’s Neil Rosen filed the following review.
Jerry Lewis returns to the big screen for his first starring role in over two decades. It's not a comedy, it's a drama and it's called Max Rose.
Lewis plays Max, a retired jazz musician who has to adjust to a new life when Eva, his wife of 65 years dies. Max has to deal with his grief, as well as a rocky relationship with his son, played by Kevin Pollack and a doting granddaughter, played by Kelly Bishe. There is also a revelation that his late wife might have been having an extramarital affair.
Lewis does some nice work here, but the film itself, written and directed by Daniel Noah, is maudlin and a downer. Some scenes, early on, where Max is semi lifeless, pining away for Eva, just drag on. It may be realistic, but it is not that captivating to watch.
At first, we feel sympathy for Max, but the character isn't very likeable, or even that interesting, which is a problem considering he's at the center of every scene.
There are some bright spots. The always reliable Pollack has a scene with Max where he tells his father he loves him and Max's delayed response is quite affecting. Scenes with other seniors at an elder care facility where Max resides, including veteran comic Mort Sahl, are kind of interesting but all too brief.
A later scene with Dean Stockwell also has a bit of power.
All in all, I can't recommend this, unless you're a hard core Jerry Lewis fan and want to see the screen legend in a rare, late career starring vehicle. However, even though he rises to the occasion, the film doesn't do him justice.
Neil Rosen’s Big Apple Rating:
Two Apples