Possible spoilers. This movie only works because Jack Lemon's (Ford character) lawyer is probably the most incompetent lawyer in motion picture history. Everything the lawyer said showed he wasn't working for his client. After the couple came to his office, there are several totally legal ways the lawyer could have gotten Lemon's character out of the marriage. (Check out annulment, Vegas marriage, and marriage of foreigner to U.S. citizen rules.) And at least one at the end to stop the trial before it begins, like checking on people who airline flights to Rome. But all this would kill the movie.

Prosperous comic-strip artist Jack Lemmon marries party girl Lisi with surprising results that put him on trial for murder.Spotty film that wrings a few laughs out of its performers, especially Mayehoff. I agree with those who find the final cut too long. The scenes with Lisi's kissy-face are repetitious long after we've gotten the idea. This is not one of Lemmon's showcases since the laughs are mainly tossed to Mayehoff and Terry-Thomas. Looks also like director Quine was uninspired by a poorly edited screenplay that doesn't catch fire until the last. (For contrast, catch his bouncy Operation Mad Ball {1957} with Lemmon and Ernie Kovacs.)Critics lambaste this film for what they see as a misogynistic subtext. After all, the all-male jury responds heartily to Lemmon's disappear-your-wife appeal. But more closely considered, Lemmon's is not an appeal against women; it's an appeal against the constraints of marriage, particularly for prosperous men who can afford bachelor desires. Besides the staging is much too silly to take seriously. That jury segment is more like a pipe dream that conveniently omits those ties that sustain most marriages. On the other hand, the possible gay part with Terry-Thomas is sneakily present, even if papered over at the last moment with Lemmon's "man". After all, this was the repressed part of the 1960's, an extension of the strait-jacketed 1950's. So, it's not surprising that monogamy and, more covertly, homosexuality would surface in a transitional year like 1965.Overall, the film's more like a period piece than an enduring chuckle-fest, and not one of Lemmon's comedy standouts.

This is one of the funniest and best-written comedies I have ever seen. Jack Lemmon is in top form, and Virna Lisi (in her first American film) is beautiful, sexy and delightful. Stanley (Lemmon) is a successful cartoonist and confirmed bachelor. He is ably assisted by his manservant, Charles, played by the always-funny Terry-Thomas. Not only is Charles a confirmed bachelor, also, but he refuses to work for any man who isn't. After a riotous night of drinking at a friend's bachelor party, Stanley awakens the next morning to find himself married to the lovely girl who popped out of the cake (Lisi). (Ironically, during the party his friend's marriage was called off.) Stanley remembers nothing, and to make matters worse, his bride speaks nary a word of English. Worse still, she hails from Italy where (at the time) divorce is forbidden. Stanley is desperate for a way to end the marriage, and quickly, but no one is able to help him. In a delicious irony, he slowly develops a fondness for his wife, only to have her leave him when he no longer wants her to. I won't reveal the rest of the plot, but the denouement is inspired, and the ending is laugh-out-loud funny.

I'm a big fan of 60's movies - they remind me of my preteen years. I was born in 1960, and watching 60's movies, particularly with Jack Lemmon, is fun. But despite Jack saying this was the best one he did with Director Quine, I wouldn't recommend it. Now I'm wondering, if Jack said this is the BEST ONE, how tedious must the other five movies he did with Quine be!?! This movie is about 30 minutes TOO LONG. There's a lot of filler here - you could boil it down to about 80 minutes and still get the gist of things. Forget about it being politically incorrect - it's a period piece. But it gets bogged down with diversions that don't move the story along. I love Jack Lemmon, but you've got to be VERY patient with this movie to get any enjoyment out of it.