Jack Lemmon shines as Stanley Ford, a lifelong bachelor cartoonist whose drunken antics and reluctant plunge into marriage drive this dark comedy. The film’s humor hinges on his physical comedy—think expanding waistlines from Italian cooking and lightbulb-electrocution mishaps. His habit of acting out comic strip scenes before drawing them adds genuine laughs, showcasing Lemmon’s genius.
The Good: Vintage Lemmon
- Physical comedy gold: Slapstick moments (like
the infamous lightbulb scene) highlight Lemmon’s talent.
- Creative flair: Reenacting comic strip
scenarios blurs fiction and reality in clever, absurd ways.
- Charming chemistry: Virna Lisi’s character
softens Stanley’s edges, offering glimmers of genuine connection.
The Dated: 1960s Gender
Dynamics
The film’s “battle of the sexes” premise hasn’t aged well:
- Misogyny as punchlines: Women are reduced to
objects (bachelor parties turn wakes for “lost freedom”) or manipulators.
- Marriage as imprisonment: The mustache-growing rebellion feels tragic, not funny, in today’s context.
- Scantily clad stereotypes: Lisi’s wardrobe
choices prioritize male gaze over character depth.
The Uncomfortable: Mutual
Manipulation
Both genders weaponize distrust:
- Stanley’s friends celebrate freedom when
weddings collapse.
- Wives use emotional blackmail (no motorcycles, no mustache, no
independence).
- The title’s dark premise—fantasizing spousal
murder—feels jarringly mean-spirited.
Verdict: A Time Capsule, Not
a Blueprint
While How to Murder Your Wife offers laughs through Lemmon’s brilliance,
its gender politics clash with modern values. It’s best viewed as a cultural
artifact—a reminder of how far we’ve come (and how far we still need to go) in
portraying mutual respect in relationships.
Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️ (for Lemmon) / ⭐️ (for messaging)
