On one hand, "The April Fools" plays as a relic of an era gone by. And now, that's how it should be viewed. Gone are the days when a Wall Street player (Peter Lawford) would throw a party for his staff at his well appointed NYC apartment, filled with crazed and debauched characters out for their sexual conquests.
On the other hand, "The April Fools" suggests that this fast and furious lifestyle might not fit everyone and that maybe that's okay. Such was the case of one of Lawford's employees, played by the incomparable Jack Lemmon. He wanders into the soiree to sign the paperwork on his promotion, hates the scene, but meets a kindred spirit (Catherine Deneuve) who feels exactly the same. They ditch the coffee table carnal carnage for their own adventure.
Of course, they're both married, unhappily, and, as it turns out, she is the boss' wife. They both decide to leave their spouses and head to her home in France. Wild, ridiculous and sometimes humorous complications abound.
Sally Kellerman plays Lemmon's wife and its difficult to understand his unhappiness with that relationship (short of a son who hates and/or resents him and an expensive hobby she has, made more affordable because of his work upgrade). Kellerman more than resembles Deneuve here, even in housewife drag, so the dream of leaving New York for Paris must have made the switch that much more attractive.
And Jack gets some "help" with his pursuit from his lawyer pal played by Jack Weston and most especially his lecherous coworker Harvey Korman, who steals every scene he's in, a rare thing to do in a Lemmon vehicle if your name isn't Matthau!
Lots of location shots that capture the feel and flavor of The City the year the Jets and Mets both won their first championships. And that Burt Bacharach/Hal David title song performed by Dionne Warwick makes the whole thing a perfect time capsule, suitable to bury under the Unisphere in the Flushing Meadow Park World's Fairgrounds!
Part comedy, part drama, part farce, sometimes all in the same scene, "The April Fools" is held together by another genuine Jack Lemmon performance and, no matter what, those are always worthwhile.
On the other hand, "The April Fools" suggests that this fast and furious lifestyle might not fit everyone and that maybe that's okay. Such was the case of one of Lawford's employees, played by the incomparable Jack Lemmon. He wanders into the soiree to sign the paperwork on his promotion, hates the scene, but meets a kindred spirit (Catherine Deneuve) who feels exactly the same. They ditch the coffee table carnal carnage for their own adventure.
Of course, they're both married, unhappily, and, as it turns out, she is the boss' wife. They both decide to leave their spouses and head to her home in France. Wild, ridiculous and sometimes humorous complications abound.
Sally Kellerman plays Lemmon's wife and its difficult to understand his unhappiness with that relationship (short of a son who hates and/or resents him and an expensive hobby she has, made more affordable because of his work upgrade). Kellerman more than resembles Deneuve here, even in housewife drag, so the dream of leaving New York for Paris must have made the switch that much more attractive.
And Jack gets some "help" with his pursuit from his lawyer pal played by Jack Weston and most especially his lecherous coworker Harvey Korman, who steals every scene he's in, a rare thing to do in a Lemmon vehicle if your name isn't Matthau!
Lots of location shots that capture the feel and flavor of The City the year the Jets and Mets both won their first championships. And that Burt Bacharach/Hal David title song performed by Dionne Warwick makes the whole thing a perfect time capsule, suitable to bury under the Unisphere in the Flushing Meadow Park World's Fairgrounds!
Part comedy, part drama, part farce, sometimes all in the same scene, "The April Fools" is held together by another genuine Jack Lemmon performance and, no matter what, those are always worthwhile.