Nice effects though.

Highly Overrated But Still Good

Am I Missing Something?

Through painfully honest and emotional moments, the movie becomes irresistibly relatable

In the 1950s and 1960s, Americans especially were more concerned about taxes than at any other time. At least, that's what Hollywood might lead one to believe, based on the number of films it turned out in those years with tax-related themes. Of course, we should be concerned about taxes. But, comedies such as "The Mating Game" helped put taxes into perspective. Toss in doses of romance, good-naturedness, neighborliness, friendships, and resentment and greedy wealth, and one has the makings of an entertaining and funny movie. This film is an American version of the Larkin family. It's based on a 1958 short novel, "The Darling Buds of May," by British author H.E. (Herbert) Bates. In the book, the Larkins reside in rural Kent, the southeastern most county in England. Canterbury is located there. Yorkshire Television produced a TV series that ran from 1991 through 1993 in England under the original name of the book. This American adaptation made significant changes, mostly to accommodate for the culture differences. So, the setting here is in rural western Maryland. Apparently it was all shot in the MGM studios in California. All the cast are excellent in this farcical story. Another reviewer thought Tony Randall was miscast as Lorenzo Charlton, but I agree with others who saw him as the perfect reticent and reluctant object of romance for Debbie Reynolds' Mariette Larkin. The two ogres in this film are played by Fred Clark (as Oliver Kelsey) and Philip Ober (as Wendell Burnshaw). They were a couple of the best character actor villains in those days. The chasing scenes involving Mariette are a lot of fun, and the exchanges with Lorenzo over taxes are very funny. But two actors stand out – Paul Douglas and Una Merkel as Pop and Ma Larkin. They steal every scene in which they appear. This was indeed a fine performance by Douglas, who often played tough guy roles or serious parts in films. It was his last film. Douglas died a few months after this film came out. He suffered a heart attack at age 52. People who want all the details of movies to make sense or to be realistic may not enjoy this film. But those who love comedy will get many smiles and laughs from "The Mating Game."

If you watch this movie and then watch the first episode of the much later, and very beloved, British TV series "The Darling Buds of May" starring David Jason and Catherine Zeta-Jones, and which made her a star in the UK, you will be struck with a feeling of having seen this before. That wonderful series is about the Larkin family, as is this movie, taken from stories by British author H.E. Bates. I knew it as soon as I heard the name 'Larkin'. For those whose reviews center on the IRS and whether or not the movie is realistic versus American tax law, be aware it was originally written in relation to British law and may just suffer from poor translation. The author's works were also used for movies such as David Lean's "Summertime", 1955, with Katherine Hepburn; and "The Purple Plain", 1954, with Gregory Peck. At any rate this is still an enjoyable movie, and as it turns out, was Douglas' last movie.

The delinquent tax plot in The Mating Game is rather far-fetched, but it is worth the suspension of disbelief because it produces some amusing results. Mostly, it provides an opportunity for Tony Randall and Debbie Reynolds to have a darn good time frolicking down on the farm. And though Miss Reynolds does not sing in this picture, it has other compensations. The movie is full of spectacular physical comedy—especially a wild and boisterous brawl that takes place in the barn. Handling the acting chores of the supporting roles are Una Merkel and Paul Douglas (in his last movie). They skillfully cover territory familiar to fans of Marjorie Main and Percy Kilbride in the Ma and Pa Kettle series.

The Mating Game's plot is based entirely on the premise that in the mid 20th century, a family could live on the barter system and hence not come up on anyone's radar including the IRS. It was forced then, but in today's computer world with the increasing use of credit cards, it would be impossible to make.Yet that is what we are to believe about the Larkin clan led by Paul Douglas and Una Merkel and their five kids, oldest being Debbie Reynolds who dusts off her Tammy character for this film. A neighbor, Philip Ober, who is a little tired of the Larkin's Tobacco Road ways, has finally ratted them out to the IRS and Tony Randall's been sent to investigate the situation.The rest of the film is about the Larkin income tax situation and how everything is ultimately resolved in the end. The best scenes in the movie involve Tony Randall getting smashed on some of the Larkin's concocted schnapps.Unfortunately in order to make this work it would have to have been set maybe at the turn of the 20th century. Had they done so, the situations might have been believable. For instance, the Larkins have a television. I'd love to know just what they would have offered in barter every month for the electric bill. Or how did they manage to pay the phone bill.