Lover Come Back

CinemaSerfJun 2024

3.5

I'm not sure there's too much actual acting going on here, more like Rock Hudson, Doris Day and Tony Randall just having some fun with an entertainingly and occasionally quite witty script from Stanley Shapiro and Paul Henning. Hudson is successful advertising executive "Jerry" who works for the hapless "Peter" (Randall) and is the antagonist of rival "Carol" (Day). Despite her best efforts to nail him for his unscrupulous business tactics, he always manages to wriggle free. Meantime, "Rebel" (Edie Adams) is one of his gals who's fed up with his empty promises. When "Carol" manages to get her to support a complaint to the advertising standards committee, "Jerry" has to think on his feet - and he offers her a job as the face of "VIP". Photoshoot in the can, can on the shelf never to be seen again, an appeased "Rebel" and a frustrated "Carol". Well not quite, because "Peter" gets wind of the photography and decides to release it - big style! Snag? Well there's no such thing as "VIP"! With the campaign taking off spectacularly, he now has to find a product to fit the bill(boards). Mad scientists, a bit of "Wonka"-esque creativity and some silver wrapping - but can it work? Of course, as with "Pillow Talk" (1959) there's a bit of burgeoning incognito romance going on which adds a little to the humour and general confusion, but for my money it's Randall who steals the piece as the wealthy boss who wouldn't know a good deal if it bit him on the lip - even if his analyst told him. Not the best title for the film, but it's good fun.