Parents' Guide to

The Errand Boy

By Grace Montgomery, Common Sense Media Reviewer

age 8+

Jerry Lewis screwball comedy is tedious, lacks kid appeal.

Movie NR 1961 92 minutes
The Errand Boy Poster Image

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What's the Story?

After discovering they're losing money despite putting out successful movies, Paramutual Pictures decides to hire an inept spy, one no one will suspect, to sneak around the lot and find the missing funds. Bumbling Morty S. Tashman (Jerry Lewis) fits the bill perfectly and is brought on as an errand boy in the mail room. As Morty wreaks havoc at the studio, wandering from set to set and ruining movies left and right, the Paramutual executives start to wonder if they've hired the right man for the job.

Is It Any Good?

Our review:
Parents say: Not yet rated
Kids say: Not yet rated

If you're not a fan of Jerry Lewis or slapstick comedy, the movie can feel interminable. Jerry Lewis comedies are divisive: You either love them or hate them. It's been argued by critics that The Errand Boy cleverly pokes fun at the ineptness of the movie industry, showing that the more idiotic you are, the more successful you'll be. And if you're a movie buff, there may or may not be some clever digs at famous stars from the era scattered throughout. But there's almost no plot, only endless scenes of Jerry Lewis fumbling around with no resolution. Lewis' ability to stretch a gag to the point of being uncomfortable made him brilliant to some but intolerable to others.

Kids might get a few laughs from the abundance of silliness, but they'll probably be bored before too long. And most of the commentary about the movie industry will be over kids' heads or just not very interesting. This is a flick probably best left to adult Jerry Lewis fans.

Talk to Your Kids About ...

  • Families can talk about the film's commentary on the movie industry. What point do you think the film is trying to make?

  • The movie shows some behind-the-scenes looks at special effects in film. Do you think the techniques shown are still used today? How are special effects different now?

  • Do you like classic comedies? How are they different from more current films?

Movie Details

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