Up in the World

"Up in the World" is the first Norman Wisdom film that I've ever seen (I'd never even heard of him until watching it, although it sounds like he was a fairly famous comedian in his day). If this one is any indication, then the rest of his movies must be a hoot. What I mean is that "UITW" nearly made me die laughing. It casts Norman Wisdom as working-class Norman, who gets a job as a window washer for some rich snobs. Employed by them, he proceeds to do the sorts of things that we most often associate with Insp. Clouseau and Gilligan, all the while riling the stuffy owners; that whole sequence when he interrupts the meeting is very likely to make you hoarse from laughter. But when some thugs try to kidnap the son, he has to take charge.

One thing that I should identify is that I watched this movie dubbed in Russian and I still laughed my head off. You literally don't need to know what they're saying to have a good time, you just need to see what Norman is doing. I guess that having him develop a relation with the maid did give the movie a humanizing aspect, but the truth is that you could watch "UITW" with the sound off and still get belly laughs. I definitely recommend it.

I am a huge fan of Norman Wisdom but not I have to say of his singing, though to be fair his voice is reasonable. The problem I have is that I don't like musicals, or films that have music injected into them.

Norman Wisdom became very popular in Britain and many of his films, insisted on featuring his singing as well as his comedic talents. As far as I am concerned if that was the case, that could have been easily accommodated. By simply having Norman Wisdom sing the songs over the films credits, at the beginning and end of the film. Leaving the entire film to be free from musical numbers, and simply being a comic film. Which is why I've marked this film down, from the usual high rating that I'd normally give one of his films.

I heartily recommend this film to anyone with a funny bone that needs tickling, you don't have to even know who Norman Wisdom is to laugh your socks off. This is a riotous madcap adventure where Norman's character has to contend not only with a precocious spoilt brat Sir Reginald (Michael Caridia) but also have to work under his Nemesis Major Willoughby (Jerry Desmond).

I thought this was one of Wisdom's very best outings as a hapless window cleaner caught up in a kidnap plot. It has far more story to it than other similar efforts the actor would go on to make, and his camaraderie with the supporting cast is what makes this zing; I particularly enjoyed his developing friendship with the spoilt young lord. The slapstick is very funny too, which helps immensely.

I regard myself fortunate to have met Norman Wisdom once. He was doing some promotional work up in Newcastle in the late 1990s.

Up in the World sees hapless Norman play a window cleaner on a big country estate. It has more windows than roof tiles. Norman has to put up with the spoilt brat of the household.

Some bad guys plan to kidnap the brat, an heir to the title and they are not happy that Norman bagged the window cleaning job.

Norman is forced to take the lad to a nightclub in London where Norman causes havoc during a magic act. The bad guys make a kidnap attempt and poor Norman is blamed and lands himself in jail.

Some of it is silly fun, there is an opening mishap where Norman places a giant poster over some apartments.

It is knockabout fun but I think it is not a good film. Norman Wisdom's schtick has aged a bit. Some of it comes across as irksome. The singing is irritating.

I quite like Norman Wisdom, there is something very endearing about him, not just because he's funny but there's his wide eyed innocence and naivety that is really quite infectious. These infectious traits are put to perfect use here, as Wisdom is on top form in a very funny and sweet performance with one of his most likable characters. The slapstick comedy which involves ladders and broken windows is standard and perhaps not that original, but I for one find it amusing and memorable. Up in the World also has a more solid plot than most Wisdom films, and the football match is one of my favourite scenes of the film. The part where he breaks into song is quite sweet, I think Wisdom has quite a nice singing voice. It isn't only funny though, the scenes with Michael Caridia(who is quite good) and the hamster are quite sentimental in a touching way. Up in the World looks lovely with the sets and photography striking, the dialogue sparkles, the pace is snappy, the direction is good and the music has just the right dose of quirkiness. All in all, a very nice film and one of my favourites of a talented and pleasurable entertainer such as Norman Wisdom. 8.5/10 Bethany Cox