Tracy Winters Jerry Lewis was cast in this slobbering bore-fest about an old geezer whom has recently lost his wife.The most sore-thumb quality about this tripe is the fact that it has no point except to prop up Lewis as a kindly old load whom we're supposed to find irresistible..... I did not. Hopefully this will be his swan song as an actor (by the way, he was NEVER an actor).Lewis was a comedian, nothing more -- and even then, he was funny only when he was funny, which wasn't very often. His pathetic films (especially the ones he directed) have proved that.If nothing else, Lewis' movies over the years (most notably in the 1960's) can be viewed as a poignant exercise in self-aggrandizement, similar to the way he conducted himself on the Labor Day telethons where he always said things like, "What 'I' have tried to do here....". Always "I", not "We".... "My kids", not "Our kids", etc.And for those who are too stupid to realize it (and there are many), Lewis cannot act, he cannot direct, and he certainly cannot sing. Just like any other mediocre performer, Lewis lucked into the position to do whatever he wanted to do in the entertainment industry, so he thinks he's a singer. Having fun in your little fantasy-life there, Jerry? In his lame attempt to feel superior to others, Lewis has never possessed the cognizance to understand that other people (even if they're not 'famous') are worthwhile human beings. Being famous, trying to be humorous, or owning a yacht, is not what makes the man. That comes from the inside. Being a loving person comes from an amiable heart.Most of all, love comes from sincerity which allows a person to accept and help others. Jerry didn't get that, he just never got it. Not when he was pan-handling for nickels on those telethons, and certainly not in 'Max Rose'. The audience is only offered a character filled with syrupy vomit which Jerry was hoping would be construed as "charm", an obvious failure.No doubt Lewis was expecting a 'deserved' Oscar for this.... deservedly, he didn't get it.

MartinHafer Back in 2013, Jerry Lewis did something many people never expected… he made a film. Think about it…87 years old and making yet another movie after a long absence from the big screen. Millions of fans about the world were eager to see this film and apparently it made a big splash at Cannes. However, oddly, the movie sat on the shelf for three more years—with no release and folks wondering what happened to the picture. Then, inexplicably, in late 2016 the film was released….but only to a tiny number of theaters! Why?! Why the long delay and then why the incredibly limited release?! Here where I live in Florida, I couldn't find any place to see this film and I was really anxious to see "Max Rose". Thank goodness we can all finally see the film, as "Max Rose" finally, finally, finally is out on Netflix and you can stream this excellent film in the comfort of your own home.The most important thing you need to know about Max Rose is that it's not like any of Lewis' other films. It's definitely not a comedy and it stars Lewis but was written and directed by Daniel Noah. So folks hoping to see a Nutty Professor style film will be terribly disappointed. As for me, I didn't mind at all, as I've always thought that Lewis' dramatic roles have been among his best— such as in "The King of Comedy" and the amazingly good made for TV movie, "Fight for Life". The other thing you really need to know about "Max Rose" is that it's very slow and deliberately paced. It clearly is not for everybody and plays much more like an indie film than anything from Hollywood. So if you are looking for pratfalls, laughs and excitement, then you might want to pick another movie. I actually enjoyed the movie very much but must admit there were a few slower and even painful patches.The story is about a man who, naturally, is named Max Rose (Lewis). The film begins with the death of his wife of 65 years and Max is beside himself with grief as well as not knowing what to do with himself. He also soon becomes very confused and angry when he finds something which would seem to indicate that early in their marriage, she'd been unfaithful to him. So now, on top of his loneliness and major upheaval of his life, Max is forced to come to terms with who his wife might have really been---all coinciding with his being moved to a retirement community.I enjoyed this movie for many reasons. Foremost is that movies tend to ignore the elderly and their problems…as if, somehow, by not thinking or talking about this we might somehow be able to avoid old age ourselves. I love that "Max Rose" confronts aging and death head on and never flinches…and I really respect that. Additionally, Lewis was great in a very underplayed and introspective sort of performance. In a word, he was believable. And finally, it's just so nice to see Jerry Lewis back on the screen and makes you wish more of our aging stars were not only in our hearts but doing what they love most…working and entertaining us all.

David Ferguson Greetings again from the darkness. It's pretty rare that an actor goes twenty plus years between lead roles, but such is the case for the legendary comedian and Muscular Dystrophy telethon host Jerry Lewis. Writer/director Daniel Noah's film was shown at Cannes Film Festival in 2013 as part of the tribute to Lewis, but it's taken about three years for it to gain any type of United States distribution.The film begins with a grief-stricken Max Rose (Lewis) dealing with the death of Eva, his wife of 65 years (played by the great Claire Bloom). We see Eva in flashbacks to little life moments, and also as an apparition and conversation partner as Max tries to solve the mystery of a 1959 make-up case … it's a mystery that could destroy Max's memories and the accepted version of his life.Max is being looked after on a regular basis by his doting granddaughter (Kerry Bishe) and periodically by his son (Kevin Pollack), who has more than enough stress in his own life. Max, a retired jazz pianist, has clearly never been the warmest or most open of gents, and the eulogy he delivers at Eva's funeral can best be described as self-centered.Soon enough, Max has moved into an assisted-living facility and the best scenes of the film find him re-discovering life with the likes of Rance Howard, Lee Weaver and Mort Sahl. Unfortunately this sequence is short-lived and Max is back on the trail of the mystery make-up case … which leads him to the mansion of a movie producer named Ben (or BS, if you're looking for a punchline). Dean Stockwell and Jerry Lewis are two screen veterans who know how to work off of one another, but just aren't given much to work within their time together.And that's probably the film's greatest weakness … it leans heavily on nostalgia. Seeing Jerry Lewis (age 90 today) back on screen generates a warm feeling – as do Ms. Bloom and the other old-timers, but the story is just too simple to provide any real insight or commentary on aging, loss, or family stress or secrets. The combination of nostalgia and sentimentality can work provided there is more depth – something that's simply lacking with our story and characters.Mr. Lewis gamely plays an unsympathetic character, and does capture the cantankerous nature that we've all witnessed in some elderly folks. There is even a laugh out loud moment featuring knitted pot holders, and we do get Lewis in a red clown nose – fortunately without his "Hey Lady!" voice. What's missing is the depth required if one plans to tackle a theme like making peace with the past … especially when the past isn't there to defend herself.

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.