Phffft

Directed by Mark Robson, Phffft follows Jack Lemmon’s Robert and Judy Holliday’s Nina as they decide to split up but find that staying apart isn’t as easy as they might’ve hoped. There’s little doubt, ultimately, that Phffft benefits substantially from the predictably compelling, charismatic efforts of its two stars, as the performers’ top-notch work goes a long way towards cultivating a perpetually watchable atmosphere and, more importantly, smoothing over the narrative’s sporadic bumps and lulls – with, in terms of the latter, the episodic midsection boasting an almost equal number of effective and ineffective sequences. (And certain scenes just seem to drag to an often palpable extent, including a protracted interlude wherein Robert tediously attempts to learn French.) It’s clear, then, that Phffft‘s success is due in large part to its predominantly affable atmosphere, as filmmaker Robson, armed with a script by George Axelrod,suffuses the proceedings with a feel-good sensibility that’s heightened by several inherently compelling asides and digressions – including Robert’s ongoing encounters with Kim Novak’s bubbly Janis and an amusing dance-off between Robert and Nina. By the time the satisfying finale rolls around, Phffft has cemented its place as an erratic yet mostly engaging comedy that’s elevated by Lemmon and Holliday’s first-class (and completely charming) work.

*** out of ****