cwillard-86003 I saw this as a young man at a new theater that just opened near my home in 1969. The problem most critics have, is they do not realize that many movies are just what they were made to be, ENTERTAINMENT, people! Not only was this a great story, but to see two people coming to grips with the bad choices in their lives, and trying to make it right. It did not hurt that it was riotously funny as well. Jack Lemmon and Catherine Deneuve were at the top of their game as well. Check this one out for great laughs, and a overall feel good time!

nomorefog I had a relative take me to see this film on a Saturday morning when I was eleven years old at a cinema in my hometown of Sydney which doesn't exist any more (I'm referring to the cinema, not my hometown of Sydney). I found a video copy on ex-rental many years later and used to watch it often. 'The April Fools' is clumsy but charming, Maybe its even morally challenged by condoning adultery. But I don't care. it isn't terribly subtle or astute, about anything in particular. It does however, contain that inscrutable spark of life that manages to keep the audience's interest flickering for 100 minutes or so before they begin to drift off again.The leading performers are Jack Lemmon and Catherine Deneuve, the latter at the time an actress better known for her work in European cinema and considered to be above this kind of Hollywood silliness. But she is still in the movie and has a wonderful presence; I can't imagine anyone else playing the part. Deneuve stooped to conquer American movies for a time but she returned to Europe, eventually continuing an already distinguished career as if her attempt to conquer Hollywood had never happened. Ms Deneuve's English in this film isn't very good; she is however, playing a French visitor to American shores, so her hesitant delivery, seems natural as it is meant to be an aspect of her character. Both Lemmon and Deneuve are married, but unfortunately not to each other; both are not happy with their relationships and find solace in each other's company. They end up having an affair, and it is all very predictable, but in such a way that is completely delightful.A title song sung by Dionne Warwick and colourful sixties costumes and sets and lots of disco dancing make the film an entertaining relic; the opening sequence where Lemmon, as an advertising executive, is the reluctant attendee of a strange and wild sixties party is very funny and the best part of the film. 'The April Fools' eventually runs out of steam due to a lack of comic ideas and becomes a timefiller because of a lack of attention to the script that resorts to slapstick at the expense of character. Deneuve leaves her husband and Lemmon decides to accompany her to Paris. They leave behind two disgruntled spouses, one Sally Kellerman and the other Peter Lawford who are perfectly set in their ways, extraordinarily boring people and not likely to miss them at all.'The April Fools' is not the kind of film to get cerebral about. It's about people finding the chance to be happy and grabbing onto it with dear life. I can see now that as a youngster I was taken in by its sense of the time ie a 'youthful carfreeness' that was meant to be part of the charm of the sixties. I was also not weighed down by the critical facilities of an adult, and this is definitely not a critic's film. The April Fools gave me the impression that the sixties were a lot of fun with all of that dancing and music and carrying on with other people's partners, but somehow I doubt if that was the film's original intention, which remains a mystery now as much as it was when I first saw it as a child. Brainwave! Maybe it was just meant to be entertainment.

owmarshall Would somebody PLEASE release this lovely little romance on DVD. Eyery week I check the new releases and see old TV series and films that no one went to see, yet this wonderful film gets no respect.The sets are mind boggling.The casting is perfect. Lemmon, Deneuve, Peter Lawford, Myrna Loy, Charles Boyer, Melinda Dillon, Harvey Korman, Jack Weston, Sally Kellerman, songs by Burt Baccarach.Come on, Hollywood!I'm begging!Please give us a DVD!!!

tjeffery My all-time favourite movie. Great Story, well filmed, superb cast, and captured the artificial attitudes of the 1960's perfectly.Jack Lemmon played the part of Howard Brubaker and, as always expected of Jack, he was great.Catherine Deneuve proved that her natural beauty is not just skin deep and who would have thought that She and Jack Lemmon would be such a resounding success together.Peter Lawford played Peter Lawford, as usual, very well and, was perfectly cast for the role of Gunther.Supporting cast were great and, since this early appearance of Kenneth Mars, why have we not seen more of him?