BON VOYAGE (1962) is a curious, mildly entertaining live-action Disney artifact about a typical American family's long awaited trip to France, and an odd attempt at semi-sophisticated comedy from a studio not exactly known for the genre.In the mom-and-pop leads are the Disney period Fred MacMurray, a long way from DOUBLE INDEMNITY, and the ex-Mrs. Reagan, Jane Wyman, whose dignity manages to hold up better than Fred's. As the two sons we have Disney protégés Kevin "Moochie" Corcoran in a relatively tolerable appearance, and Disney maverick, Tommy Kirk, in a buzz cut that does nothing for him.For the young love interest daughter Deborah Walley and cynical playboy Michael Callen (Riff in the original stage cast of WEST SIDE STORY) are re-teamed after 1961's GIDGET GOES HAWAIIAN. As Callen's expatriate mother Jessie Royce Landis does her best to bring a touch of giddy sophistication to her Paris soirée sequence.Around this time they used to say Disney got their live-action performers on the way up (Julie Andrews) or the way down (most of the cast here). It's also somewhat difficult to gage the target audience - adults, teens, family? - because there's not much here to hold a child's interest.Certainly interesting is the authentic (if brief) footage of vintage ocean liners and their NYC piers (including a comically confused boarding and departure sequence), and location shots of an early '60s Paris.Most curious sequence: MacMurray meeting what is subtly coded as a Paris street walker, played by the authentically French and rather grave Françoise Prévost, who seems to have inexplicably wandered in from a Godard film. Later she also picks up Kirk, an encounter dad is quick to defuse.So it's no spoiler to mention that American Family Values triumph at the end in spite of a climactic trip to the decadent French Riviera. On the plus side the film presents a generally positive, even admiring view of French life and culture.And Bunuel and Dali would surely love the extended sequence in which Fred MacMurray's wiggling finger protrudes from a street level Paris sewer lid.

Bon Voyage Let's See. On board for 'Bon voyage' is my mother's favorite actor 'Fred MacMurray'. There is actress and Ronald Regan's ex 'Jane Wyman'. Disney maverick's 'Tommy Kirk' and 'Kevin Anthony "Moochie" Corcoran' are on board as well. And then there is Deborah Walley, who I never heard of before, but she seems like she's a good actress.OK, there is the wholesome Disney atmosphere, some wacky situations, one involving Fred getting lost in the sewers of Paris and other wacky things including Fred almost getting arrested from causing a scene at a restaurant. He has some other wacky conversations with some relatives who have never meet him, but think it's horrible that Jane Whyman's character has marred of all things 'A plumber'. He slyly reveals that he is the plumber much to their shocked snobbery surprise. Overall there is the interesting sitcom concept and premise of a family taking a vacation in Europe.This concept was used in 'National Lampoon's European Vacation' and produced a rather funny film. The concept used in this film produced a rather dull and boring movie. Despite the cleaner friendly film, it isn't a Disney film worth adding to your collection and I would have to say it isn't worth renting either. NLEV is crude in parts and is not worth letting your kids watch unless you find a way to severely edit out all the inappropriate parts.But 'Bon Voyage' is not the better equivalent. With Fred MacMurray you expect better work. His character is annoying. When a man hits on his wife instead of hitting him, he guzzles down booze and gets upset at his wife because a guy is flirting with her. He does finally sock the guy, so justice wins out in the end, even though you have to wait for it to happen while enduring his whining about it. The melodrama that bubbles up from this film is also annoying and leaves you wondering about the deeper storyline that they never reveal. Even if they did you probably wouldn't care anyway.The Disney magic does not flow upon everything that it does. This is not the worst film ever made or the worst film Disney ever made, it's just a rather boring dull film. So I say Bon Voyage 'Bon Voyage ( and don't come back)

Excruciatingly long and tedious comedy-drama from Walt Disney concerning "typical" Midwestern family on vacation in Europe. There's the worrisome father (Fred MacMurray, acting befuddled, like Jimmy Stewart); the giddy mom (Jane Wyman, dignified but dulled-out); the cold-fish daughter; the too-cool teenage son (in ascots!); and the mischievous little brother (named Skipper!). Directed by Disney mainstay James Neilson, whose pacing was always a little slow, the film is not only out-of-touch, but hammy and unfunny. It would make a torturous double-bill alongside another Disney teens-and-their-parents tale, "Superdad". * from ****

This turned out to be a good movie. Fred MacMurray and Jane Wyman finally take the European trip they've always dreamed of, including taking their three children along. Tommy Kirk and Doborah Walley are their teen-aged children and bring along their romantic escapades. On location shooting make for a better than average Disney film. Saw this on the Disney channel.