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If you're willing to deal with the pre-requisite fifties
camp that comes along with this hyper energetic romance musical, then
"The Girl Can't Help It" is pretty much the lightning in the bottle that
is the ethereal beauty of Jayne Mansfield. A classic story of the
underdog pushed in to becoming a star, "The Girl Can't Help It" is a
wonky romance comedy that stars the immortal Mansfield as the innocent
Jerri Jordan, a long leggy, busty, pouty, soft spoken gal seeking only
happiness. Pushed in to becoming a star by her dictator soon to be
husband Fats Murdock, he insists she become a big music star so he can
have something to like about her. Aside from the fact she's sweet,
endearing, intelligent, can cook, is faithful, and insanely beautiful,
he just wants to turn her in to a music star and live vicariously
through her. The story isn't as dramatic as it sounds even though in its
core it's a love tale. Frank Tashlin's fifties time capsule features
performances from major rock stars including Little Richard and Gene
Vincent, all of whom act as buffers to keep the audiences attention as
Mansfield's own charisma and sexual appeal is put on display. The
bonafide blond bombshell is a somewhat adorable woman who only wants to
settle down and start a family, but has no other recourse but to follow
the rules of her soon to be fiance Fats Murdock.
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Tom Ewell plays Tom Miller, a man haunted by
his romantic past with a big singer, who is assigned to turn
Jordan in to an instant star. As you can imagine he begins
to fall in love with her as she reveals herself to be
anything but a dumb blond interested in stardom. "The Girl
Can't Help It" has a lively energy to it with a rocking
soundtrack and some genuinely hilarious comic bits including
Jordan's failure to hit a high note that destroys a light
bulb, and of course the classic sequence of Mansfield
walking through a neighborhood drawing the eyes of every man
she comes across who manage to melt ice at her presence and
squeeze the life out of a glass milk bottle.
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Never taking itself
seriously, Tashlin knows what the intent of the film is so he bends
reality on some occasions and breaks the fourth wall with a preamble
that's quite funny and sets the tone for the quick pacing and
understated charm of Mansfield whose introduction is very subtle but
eye catching nevertheless. There's also a slew of double entendres
thrown our way upon the second meeting of Miller and Jordan who take
a considerable liking to one another flirting through puns and
zingers hinting at their obvious attraction to one another. Though
the drama between Jordan and Miller amps up considerably as their
emotions grow for one another, Tashlin never drops the hip tone and
slick atmosphere keeping the musical acts coming every twenty
minutes or so with some truly excellent tunes. "The Girl Can't Help
It" is a sweet little fifties gem that should be viewed for the
endearing tale and of course, who doesn't love Ms. Mansfield?
With a slick score, a groovy soundtrack, a fun atmosphere
and the one and only Mansfield, "The Girl Can't Help It" is a fun little
musical worth watching if only for the fantastic theme song by Little
Richard.
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