The Punch and Judy Man Reviews

Popular British TV comedian Hancock is the title character, a children's puppeteer at a seaside resort. His wife (Syms) is a social-climbing snob with whom he's constantly bickering. She wants him to move on to bigger things. The town is celebrating its 60th anniversary, which gives Hancock his chance to prove himself. He fails disastrously, but his wife forgives him and all is righted between the two. The script (based on a story idea by Hancock) is too slight to work as a whole. There are, however, some fine moments when Hancock is simply allowed to let loose and be funny. Though popular on British TV, he was never able to find the right film vehicle. Here he has some good moments tackling an ice cream sundae, using his expressive face to best advantage. But the film is ultimately too melancholy to work and far too slight in story to be of any use. The direction is fine, though it can only do so much. Audiences in the US may miss observing the parallels between the protagonists' own lives and the traditions of the classical Punch and Judy performance.