Evengyny Thanks for the memories!

Rosie Searle It's the kind of movie you'll want to see a second time with someone who hasn't seen it yet, to remember what it was like to watch it for the first time.

Hattie I didn’t really have many expectations going into the movie (good or bad), but I actually really enjoyed it. I really liked the characters and the banter between them.

Deanna There are moments in this movie where the great movie it could've been peek out... They're fleeting, here, but they're worth savoring, and they happen often enough to make it worth your while.

Petri Pelkonen Jerry Lewis (1926-2017) plays an 87-year old jazz pianist whose wife of 65 years has died. He has learned that his Eva may not have been faithful all those years. Max Rose is directed by Daniel Noah and it's from 2013, but the wider audience got to see the movie last year. It hasn't gotten such fine reviews, but I just saw it on Netflix and liked it. It marks Jerry Lewis' return to the big screen after a very long time, and even longer with the top billing. This could be seen as the swan song of this legendary comedian, although he did appear in a couple of films after this. Here we see him playing it straight, even though he does wear a clown's nose for a while. And it's a lot of fun to see glimpses of the old Jerry Lewis, like at the jam session with the other old-timers. He mimes playing the instruments, which is a reminder of his old typewriter routine. But Jerry Lewis could be serious too, if he wanted to. The movie has a wonderful supporting cast, as well. Kerry Bishé is terrific as Annie Rose, the granddaughter. And Kevin Pollak is great as his son Christopher. Dean Stockwell is very good as Ben Tracey, the other man. Illeana Douglas plays the part of Jenny Flowers and she's superb. In the flashback sequences we see Claire Bloom as the late wife, and she's just marvelous. Then we have the group of fantastic old men- Rance Howard, Lee Weaver and Mort Sahl. What a joy to watch them! This is not your typical feel-good movie. If you want to see one, go see a Jerry Lewis movie of a different era. I'm so glad Max Rose got made when it still was possible. It ends with Mr. Lewis walking into the light. What a nice exit!

matt72582 Mort Sahl is the only reason to see this. It's obvious he writes his material - he did this in the 50's and every other decade, usually his stand-up routine.As for Jerry Lewis, I don't feel anything for him. At least he's not playing the silly role, but there isn't much here. Took 3 years to even distribute. The movie was considered so bad that the French wouldn't show it!

Eric Michaels Before the screening began, we were informed that the print we were about to see was a work in progress. All the usual provisos were announced: "We're still editing, the score is temp, it's not fully color corrected…" and so on. While I normally wouldn't write a review of an unfinished film, I was so touched and moved by this film, I can't help but share my thoughts.As pretty much everyone knows, "Max Rose" marks the return to the screen of film and television legend Jerry Lewis, who has not been in a movie since the 1995 comedy "Funny Bones." In "Max Rose," he plays the title character, an 87-year old musician who has just lost Eva, his wife of over 60 years. As we first meet him, he shows the grief and pain of a man who has had his entire world ripped away from him. The attempts of his son Christopher (Kevin Pollak) and granddaughter Annie (Kerry Bishé) to console him are dismissed. It is at Eva's funeral that we learn Max is experiencing much more than the normal pain associated with losing a spouse. In the midst of his eulogy, Max declares himself a failure, and his 65 years of marriage a lie. Just after Eva's death, Max had found a compact while going through her possessions. Inside that compact was a very intimate inscription to his wife from another man, with the date corresponding to a time in 1955 when Max was away from home, recording an album. Max is sure that Eva was unfaithful to him, and he embarks on a mission to find out more about the "other man." He tears the house apart, looking for anything that will lead him to the identity of Eva's mysterious suitor. A health scare makes it clear to Christopher and Annie that Max can no longer live alone, and they make the agonizing decision to put him in an assisted living facility. In the facility, Max makes the acquaintance of three colorful residents (Mort Sahl, Lee Weaver, Rance Howard) who help to slowly chip away at Max's issues and insecurities, and to find a resolution to the doubts that plague him."Max Rose" is an amazing, emotional journey that is tender, moving and insightful. At times there are moments that are quite funny, made even more so by the fact that the humor is never forced nor is it there as an homage to the film's star. The laughs come from a very real place and are inspired by the story.Watching Jerry Lewis in this film makes one wish he hadn't spent so much time away from the screen. Even in moments with little to no dialogue, his eyes and movements speak with more emotion and eloquence than a Shakespearean actor delivering a five-page monologue. This is a role that Lewis has seemingly lived his entire life to portray, and he holds nothing back. The biggest compliment I can pay is that I never felt I was watching Jerry Lewis, but rather became absorbed, entwined and totally involved with a man named Max. Lewis is in virtually every scene in the film, a Herculean task for any actor, much less one of his advanced age. There is not a false note to be found in his performance.The supporting cast is impressive, and they inhabit their characters with the same talent and dedication as Mr. Lewis. Kevin Pollak portrays Max's estranged son, and while we have seen this kind of dysfunctional relationship presented in many films and television shows, Pollak makes the audience feel the pain of a man who desperately want to connect with his father before it's too late.Kerry Bishé, recently seen as part of the ensemble cast of "Argo," comes into her own as Max's loving granddaughter. Their private moments are some of the film's most charming scenes, and they are a clear indication of the love Max is still capable of. Annie wants nothing more than to comfort and care for this man she adores and idolizes. Max allows her to get closer than anyone else, but she's still frustrated at his refusal to deal with the schism between father and son, and concerned with his fixation on Eva's unknown admirer. Seen in flashbacks and fantasy conversations, Claire Bloom portrays Eva, and she is luminescent. One can easily comprehend why Max would spend a lifetime devoting himself to this woman, and why the thought of her being unfaithful would crush him so completely.In smaller, but key roles, the rest of the cast make the most of their screen time. Mort Sahl, Lee Weaver, Rance Howard, Fred Willard, Illeana Douglas and Dean Stockwell all deliver textured performances that more than enhance the story.It is hard to believe that this is only the second effort of Daniel Noah as a director (he also wrote the screenplay). He handles his cast with practiced ease and skill, no small feat considering the legendary pedigree of his star. At its heart, "Max Rose" is a heartwarming story that celebrates love, between spouses, between families and friends. Noah shows us that love knows no boundaries, and is certainly not diminished with age, but only grows stronger. The elderly are portrayed as they should be- as real human beings, with dignity and strength and humanity, not as the doddering old fools we so often see on screen. The characters that populate the world of "Max Rose" are people we all know and love. This is a film that should be seen and appreciated by audiences of every generation, both as a beautiful cinematic experience, and as a reminder to truly appreciate those we hold most dear to ourselves. Well done, Mr. Noah. Well, well done, Mr. Lewis, and welcome back.

Sgolds23 MAX ROSE must get distribution. If/when it does, Jerry Lewis will win an Oscar for Best Actor.If you only know Lewis as the icon rubber-faced "HEY LAAAAADY" comic of films like THE NUTTY PROFESSOR and CINDERFELLA, you are in for a delightful surprise. Even if you loved Jerry in Scorsese's brilliant KING OF COMEDY, you'll still be shocked by the depth and delicacy of his performance in the title role, a man whose life begins to unravel after the death of his beloved wife of 60+ years, Eva -- beautifully played by Clare Bloom.Lewis has been prepping for his role for more than 3/4 of a century and he lights up the screen. Seeing his work here makes me wish he'd done more than the slapstick comedies that made him an icon. He's a damned fine dramatic actor.Writer-Director Daniel Noah has crafted a story that is at once tender, heartbreaking, honest, textured and captivating. It is that rarest of things - an actual "movie" with a plot and compelling characters.Noah allows Jerry to pay subtle homage to his own past without overshadowing the heart, the drama or the honesty of Max's odyssey. The supporting cast is excellent, notably a group of 80-somethings including Mort Sahl and Rance Howard.Daniel Noah is a filmmaker to be reckoned with. I hope this film brings him the success he deserves.