Quartile rating: 7/10 · 1 rating
A timid, nearsighted chemistry teacher discovers a magical potion that can transform him into a suave and handsome Romeo. The Jekyll and Hyde game works well enough until the concoction starts to wear off at the most embarrassing times.
Jerry Lewis's comedic performance is the undeniable centerpiece — his dual role as the bumbling Kelp and the insufferably cool Buddy Love is a masterclass in physical and character comedy, earning genuinely high marks for acting. The Jekyll-and-Hyde premise is well-worn but Lewis brings a sardonic, semi-autobiographical edge (widely read as a Rat Pack/Dean Martin parody) that gives it some novelty. The plot is thin and episodic, functioning primarily as a vehicle for set pieces. Cinematography is functional and brightly lit in standard early-60s studio fashion — competent but unremarkable. The ending, while delivering a moral lesson, feels rushed and slightly pat, though the film's self-awareness elevates it slightly above the formulaic.