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What A Way To Go Certificate U

What A Way To Go

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Rated 3.0 stars
Average rating
(60%)
 
Starring: Shirley MacLaine | Paul Newman | Robert Mitchum | Dean Martin | Gene Kelly | Robert Cummings | Dick Van Dyke | Reginald Gardiner | Margaret Dumont | Lou Nova | Fifi D'Orsay | Maurice Marsac | Wally Vernon | Jane Wald | Lenny Kent
Director: J. Lee Thompson
Studio: 20TH CENTURY FOX HOME ENTERTAINMENT
Run time: 111 mins
Genres: Comedy
Languages: English
Released: April 17, 2006

A classic of 60's film decadence, WHAT A WAY TO GO stars Shirley MacLaine as Louisa, a widow four times over who is left with more money than she knows what to do with. When she signs an unsolicited, multimillion-dollar check over to the IRS, however, officials in high places begin to doubt her sanity, and send her to a psychiatrist. As her story unfolds in the doctor's office, her motivations become clear. A young Louisa, encouraged to marry for money, instead chose to marry for love. Sadly, after her new husband had a small taste of success, he pursued it endlessly, and ultimately greed lead him to an early demise. His three successors follow suit. In an attempt to avoid the same fate, Louisa now desires to rid herself of her wealth and return to her original simplicity. With an all-star cast including Paul Newman, Robert Mitchum, Dean Martin, Dick Van Dyke, Gene Kelly, Robert Cummings, and Margaret Dumont, this over-the-top comedy is a study in excessive mise en scene, and Maclaine is resplendent in Edith Head costumes and brilliant Technicolor.

Rating of 3 stars out of 5
Radio Times

A lavish, frantic comedy with Shirley MacLaine as a serial wife, marrying one of the best casts ever assembled: Dick Van Dyke's humble storekeeper turned zillionaire; Paul Newman's American artist in Paris; Robert Mitchum's Howard Hughes-type tycoon; and Gene Kelly's matinée idol. Much of the movie falls flat and it always tries too hard but Betty Comden and Adolph Green's script (they wrote Singin' in the Rain and The Band Wagon) comes up with some clever demises for the husbands — Mitchum is kicked by the bull he is trying to milk — and mercilessly satirises the egotism of Gene Kelly. In 1964 the visual style was a knockout; today one might need to watch it through sunglasses.

Rating of 1 stars out of 5
Halliwell's Film Guide

Wild, mainly agreeable, star-and-gag-laden black comedy which starts on too high a note and fails to sustain.

Highest rated reviews

Rated 3 stars
likeable

codytone from , 13th December, 2009

thoroughly likeable mid 60s movie. showcase for Shirley McLaines talents, probably a sunday afternoon watch, very colourful and very hollywood, its light and amusing without ever being laugh out loud and shouldnt tax the grey matter too much. all star cast includes, Paul Newman, Gene Kelly, Robert Mitchum, Dean Martin and Dick Van Dyke! If you like those frivolous 60s hollywood films you'll like this.

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Rated 1 stars
Unfunny

A Customer from Bideford, 23rd March, 2009

It must be the fault of the script that this film is not very funny. It has a great cast and I expected a better product.

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Rated 3 stars
Screaming Out For A Remake

Sleepystujam from , 27th October, 2007

Although it's aged quite a bit, this film just yells out 'zany' to you. One of the few films that could be bettered if re-made.

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1 out of 2 people found the following review helpful:

Rated 2 stars
not what i expected

A Customer from clevelandengland, 13th May, 2006

it was ok but at the end i found myself saying is that it?

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