I wanted to like "The Family Jewels" but found there was more to it to dislike than like. It's really a shame, as some aspects of the film were quite good--but too much of it suffered from extreme overacting.The film begins with a very rich little girl being told by lawyers that her father's will stipulates that she must move in with one of her five uncles. So, the plan is for her to visit each uncle and spend a couple weeks with each of them--and then she gets to choose the one she'll live with for the rest of her life. The uncles, it turns out, are all played by Jerry Lewis. And, oddly, their unrelated chauffeur also is played by Jerry. So, in many ways the film is reminiscent of such comedies as "Kind Hearts and Coronets", "The Mouse That Roared" and "The Klumps".There were some parts of the film I liked. A few of the jokes (a distinct minority) were funny and I caught myself laughing a couple times. Additionally, I liked watching the relationship between the chauffeur and the child--showing what I've thought for a long time--that Lewis was EXCELLENT at drama and I wish the film had more of that. But, too often the characters were done with no subtlety and although many reviewers love him, I found much of the antics overbearing and overdone. Subtle, it ain't! It's a shame, as I do like some of Lewis' films--but others just needed less--a lot less.

I know this isn't the best movie to watch, but for some reason I found it campy, corny and enjoyable. Jerry Lewis did seem to try and have fun with this film, and showed off his mulit-character talents which some people called hogging the movie. But hey can't we all just have fun sometimes? Apparently not since some of the negative reviews the movie received. Oh well I still like the movie alot and will always look to catch it on TV.10 out of 10, bc I said so.

This is the third old Jerry Lewis-film I've seen recently(the others being THE NUTTY PROFESSOR and WHO'S MINDING THE STORE?)and it's easily the least of the three. Whereas the other two had an inspired moment every hour or so, this film scores low on ingenuity and high on stupidity. There just isn't a single funny scene in it, the story is of course ludicrous(which wouldn't have been a problem when it would have been funny) and the only thing Jerry Lewis seems to be able to is looking cross-eyed when there's a sudden noise. Oh yes, and have I mentioned his idiotic walk? Now I know that when you've seen a Lewis movie, you've seen them all. The more I see of him the worse it gets. And I just can't understand why some people keep calling him "underrated", I just can't. There's nothing subtle about him, he's about as funny as Pauly Shore(and his films of the same level)and he's not really a modest guy too. If it's obvious that your films are nothing more than a showcase for yourself(and the story of no importance), you expect them to be funnier. What can I say more? Just don't see this unless you have to write a book or so about Jerry Lewis. But then again, who would do that? 3/10

I'll give Lewis credit: even though this one isn't on par with the uproarious stuff he and Dean Martin did or even with "The Disorderly Orderly" or "The Nutty Professor", "The Family Jewels" shows Lewis doing what he does best.Running amok.Playing no less than seven characters here, Lewis changes costumes, accents and venues but stays just as addled in all of them. This time, he plays a chauffeur who takes care of a little girl (Butterworth, a novice here and since) and shuttles her between six brothers (all Lewis again) who vie to be guardian of her and the millions of dollars she will inherit.Of course, it's interesting to see that he brings back (in shape only) his character from "The Nutty Professor". Good to see him.And only Lewis could make a slapstick free-for-all in which Anne Baxter makes a cameo.It's good, nutty fun for all and definitely a better choice than his later work. "The Family Jewels" - definitely a "Jewel" in the rough.Eight stars.