MartinHafer Please note: This review is by a grouchy American who did NOT grow up watching Norman Wisdom on television or in film. Therefore, this actor does not hold the sentimental charm that he obviously does for Brits or those who grew up behind the old Iron Curtain. Because of that, I did not have the same predisposition to love Mr. Wisdom. And, unlike some of the other reviewers, I don't really see the comparison with Chaplin or Lloyd, though I did see a lot in common with Jerry Lewis. In fact, most of his antics seemed very, very forced--not artful like Lloyd or Chaplin. But who am I to say, as Mr. Wisdom has been knighted and is a British institution--an institution that most Americans just won't understand. Of course, the same can be said for American football and $5 cups of coffee from Starbucks--things Brits and most others really can't understand as well.Now this isn't to say that I hated TROUBLE IN STORE, I just didn't see it as magical as most other reviewers did. It's a pleasant little diversion about a very klutzy guy (Wisdom) and his many, many mistakes on his job at a department store. In many ways, he reminds me of Curious George, actually, as every time he messes up, it all turns out well in the end. I almost expected people to say "good monkey" at several points during the movie. The only problem is that there was just little subtlety about the film and Norman's behaviors became a bit tiresome--no one is THAT klutzy. As a result, I really can't recommend the film--at least unless you have a real high threshold for this sort of humor.By the way, Margaret Rutherford's charming supporting role as a shoplifter seems to have possibly inspired Helen Hayes' role in AIRPORT. Both feature larcenous cute old ladies to add color to the films.

Andrei Pavlov No, I won't, I am raving mad! Well, Mr Norman Wisdom strikes again. Another over-the-top comedy with his trademark style. Now his genuine "Don't laugh at me…" song is included too. What surprises me here is good timing in very well choreographed crowd scenes. The supermarket "sale-out" day is represented as one solid piece of mass hysteria.The old lady, who steals everything in sight, is almost stealing the show – well, she could have stolen this movie if it were not a Norman movie. Mr Norman Wisdom makes some impressive stunts here (roller-skating along the busy streets of London, performing some rather dangerous acrobatic jumps and falls, and playing with fire).Ladies and gentlemen, this is the way the comedies are to be made. No modern stuff can beat it. When another Hollywood so-called "comedy" comes to the screen nowadays, I am 99% sure it is going to be junk with less than 5% of healthy giggles potential. And whenever I watch a Norman Wisdom movie, "laughing my ass off" is guaranteed. Like it or not, Mr Norman Wisdom is a comic genius, like Mr Charlie Chaplin, Mr Buster Keaton, and Mr Arkadiy Raikin.If you don't like this movie, you are probably dead, bright green, and are about to smell bad (no offence here).With deep respect to the master, 10 out of 10. Thank you for attention.

MARIO GAUCI Norman Wisdom's brand of comedy is an acquired taste; for those unfamiliar with his particular shtick, he's basically the British counterpart to Jerry Lewis - with all that it entails! I had watched a few of his films over the years but it'd been some time since then, so I decided to rent a 12-DVD Box Set (on Region 2) available from my local outlet - which, actually, I did mainly for my father's sake who used to lap his films up...and is already halfway into the collection as I write this! Anyway, his debut feature is pleasant enough and is actually considered by many to be his best vehicle (though still featuring a couple of sentimental songs). In itself, simple-minded but occasionally inventive (particularly the window-dressing 'competition', the "sale day" rush and the climactic rounding-up of the bad guys) and with a premise that's seen service in countless 'comedian' films - Charlie Chaplin's short THE FLOORWALKER (1917) and again later in MODERN TIMES (1936), Harold Lloyd's SAFETY LAST (1923), The Marx Bros.' THE BIG STORE (1941) and Jerry Lewis himself in WHO'S MINDING THE STORE? (1963). Here the star is nicely abetted by Jerry Desmonde as his flustered boss (often serving as the brunt of Wisdom's accident-prone gags) and Margaret Rutherford as a charming elderly shoplifter.

david-697 Though now slightly over fifty years old, Sir Norman's film debut remains one of his very best movies. 'Trouble In Store' finds the clown in top form, as a stock room worker who wishes to move up in the world and marry the girl of his dreams. Whether roller-skating behind a fast moving bus or crooning his biggest hit (and signature tune) 'Don't Laugh At Me', Norman demonstrates the charisma that made him such a major box office attraction.Backing Norman is the fantastic Margaret Rutherford, who in only a handful of scenes steals the picture (and everything else!) as an elderly shoplifter. The very lovely Lana Morris also scores as the object of Sir Norman's affections. Lana comes across in this picture so well that it is a real pity that she did not have a better movie career.Highlights range from Wisdom's window dressing 'duel' with Michael Ward, a very catchy duet with Lana (Norman once again showing us his great singing voice) and a fun Western parody climax. This movie seemed to fly by and is probably Sir Norman's most enjoyable film.