Reprising his role as Stanley the bellboy, Jerry Lewis returns in The Patsy. When a star comedian dies unexpectedly, the team behind the man decide to train an unknown to fill the shoes of the late comedian for a TV show.
Undeniably absurd but extremely funny, the film centres on the disastrous attempts by Stanley to fulfil the requirements to pass himself off as the comedian. As Stanley's big debut approaches, his abilities deteriorate rapidly into a melting-pot of mayhem and slapstick. Lewis produces some of his best gags as Stanley valiantly attempts to adapt to the showbiz lifestyle. A makeover in a barber-shop descends into a surreal episode full of bizarre tics and facial gestures that will have audiences clutching their sides. The scene in which Stanley attempts to mime along to a hit song is brilliant in its simplicity.
With a supporting cast consisting of a whose-who of veteran Hollywood idols including Peter Lorre (Casablanca), John Carradine (The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance) and Everett Sloane (Citizen Kane), The Patsy is a nostalgic take on the golden-era of filmmaking that subverts the ideology of 'the star' in favour of a raucous tale of mistaken identity. Lewis' use of sound gags to enhance the visual jokes adds a new dimension to the genre and creates an experience that draws the audience in wooing them in the process. An hilarious and light-hearted film about the entertainment industry.