Well known for his pairings with Bing Crosby, Bob Hope also collaborated regularly with Lucille Ball, as in this 1960 tale of marital infidelity, which offers relatively few opportunities for the leads' trademark slapstick zaniness, but is still far from dark. Director Melvin Frank's treatment is more in the vein of an extended sitcom, as married neighbors Kitty Weaver (Ball) and Larry Gilbert (Hope)—who don't much care for one another—find themselves alone in Acapulco after their spouses drop out of a joint vacation. Kitty and Larry soon discover that they have much in common during an idyllic week that ultimately leads to an abortive affair in which their every attempt to get together is foiled. But when they decide to run away, the trip turns into a disaster, and after coming to the realization that they can't leave their families, the pair struggle to return home before anyone finds out about their fling. While some of the script elements have aged badly, by and large this is a pretty entertaining film (although it was initially considered a bit naughty), and Hope and Ball deliver what, for them, are appropriately restrained performances. Recommended. (F. Swietek)
The Facts of Life
Olive, 103 min., not rated, DVD: $24.95, Blu-ray: $29.95 Volume 30, Issue 3
The Facts of Life
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