gridoon2018 Considered a vehicle for comedienne Marie Wilson at the time, "My Friend Irma" is mostly remembered today as the movie that launched the film careers of Dean Martin and Jerry Lewis. Martin sings a couple of songs pleasingly, while Lewis introduces his idiotic overgrown-child persona; I found his antics singularly unfunny, but it's a matter of taste. Diana Lynn is beautiful and believable and grounds the film with genuine emotions; Wilson is eager but she cannot quite compare to Gracie Allen; and John Lund says "chicken" about a hundred times. It's all quite harmless, but overlong at 98 minutes. **1/2 out of 4.

vincentlynch-moonoi A "small" film, notable only for the introduction of the comedy team of Dean Martin & Jerry Lewis to the national public. It is based on a CBS radio series. You can't help but wonder how the "other" actors felt when production of the film was already underway when Martin & Lewis were added...and I would say pretty quickly became the main figures in the film.So, in terms of the "real" stars of the film: John Lund as the male lead...well, I found his character to be annoying; this is definitely not his best work. Marie Wilson is supposed to be shallow, and is; is it acting or was that just who she was an actress. In fact, her film career ended not along after the two "Irma" pictures. Diana Lynn seems a rather pleasant screen presence, and as I recall did show up in future Martin & Lewis films. Don DeFore does very nicely as the love competition. Hans Conreid is around briefly to reprise his role from the radio show.For their first film, Martin and Lewis do rather nicely here. Jerry is...Jerry. But, he's fairly funny here, and you certainly do see the beginning to the Martin & Lewis film persona, even in this first film. Dean is suave and relaxed, and has some pretty decent songs: "Here's To Love" (so relaxed; extended version would have been better; shows up again later in film); "Just For Fun" (nicely done); "Donkey Serendade" (which features the first real Martin & Lewis routine on film); "My Own, My Only, My All".In terms of the story, it's an okay light comedy. Seems like a late-40s type story. Some good laughs, but things are kept simple. It would have been interesting to see what the movie would have been without Martin & Lewis...obviously it would have been a drastically different story.Far from the best of the Martin & Lewis films, but always interesting to see careers from their point as ascent.

MartinHafer Irma (Marie Wilson) is a ditsy woman whose antics made Gracie Allen seem like an Einstein. Marie Wilson's dumb routine is one you'll either find funny or terribly annoying--I know it got on my nerves a bit after a while. However, even if you find this a bit tiresome, it's worth seeing just since it's the screen debut of the comedy team of Dean Martin & Jerry Lewis.The film opens with Jane (the ever-cute Diana Lynn) narrating and describing her annoying roommate, Irma. Now considering just how annoying Irma is, you do wonder why Jane has anything to do with her--especially since her long-term fiancé, Al, is a greasy user (John Lund).Al has just discovered a musical talent (Dean Martin) working with his friend (Jerry Lewis) at a local orange juice bar and although he knows NOTHING about the entertainment industry, lies and tells Martin he can make him a star! And, Al just assumes he can take advantage of Jane and get her to help put up Steve and Seymour (Martin & Lewis) in the tiny apartment. Naturally, you assume that after an inauspicious introduction that Jane and Steve will become sweethearts. However, Jane's new boss, Mr. Rhinelander (Don Defore), has ideas about her as well.Al is able to actually help Steve by getting him a variety of engagements at restaurants and nightclubs--which is a bit surprising. With his beautiful voice, his success isn't all that surprising but what is surprising (in the film and in real life) is that people liked seeing and hearing his partner sing as well! So, a few times Steve's great songs are interrupted or 'enhanced' by Seymour's antics. Considering I usually hate musical numbers in comedies, the fact that I just wanted to hear Dean Martin's singing is a testament to his skills--as well as Lewis'! Some liked Jerry's singing...though to me it was just painful...very, very painful--though in real life Lewis did have a nice singing voice when not hamming it up.As for the acting, I liked John Lund--he was pretty funny though not exactly subtle. Martin and Lynn were also good. As for Wilson and Lewis...well, they are more an acquired taste. I've seen Jerry Lewis better--and more subtle. As for Wilson...she's pretty much the ditz I saw her as in other films. The less said the better. The film, despite its limitations, is enjoyable and worth seeing if you are an old time comedy fan--though it's far from Martin & Lewis' best. Not great but it sure has its moments.By the way, this film has a sequel, "My Friend Irma Goes West", and it's not surprising, as "My Friend Irma" ends BEFORE the plot is fully resolved--showing they must have known they'd do a sequel before they even finished the first film!

ajohns1 This is one of my 2nd favorite Jerry Lewis and Dean Martin movies the only one that is better is The Caddy. This movie was also the first of D/M & J/L that I had ever seen. It's quiet little movie but with so many good songs and lots and lots of great laughs by Jerry and a couple of laughs from Irma. This comes highly recommended by me and I hope that you see it after you've read my comment. 9/10