A bit of a misfire that is nonetheless endlessly entertaining, What a Way to Go! stars Shirley MacLaine as Louisa May Foster, a small-town girl who eschews the marriage proposal of a big-shot businessman (Dean Martin). Instead, she signs up for a simpler, nearly penniless life with a carefree fisherman (Dick Van Dyke) inspired by Thoreau. Unexpected wealth ruins things—eventually fatally for Van Dyke’s character, who succumbs to greed—kicking off a series of husbands for Louisa May, all of whom are passionate at first but eventually place commerce over companionship. Martin and Van Dyke are just the first two in a cavalcade of major names playing second fiddle to MacLaine: Paul Newman, Robert Mitchum, and Gene Kelly also each take a turn. They mostly fascinatingly flail with the extremely broad comedy tone set by screenwriters Betty Comden and Adolph Green, which is guided with a heavy hand by director J. Lee Thompson. (The insistent jokiness of the title should give you an idea of the movie’s manner.) MacLaine, who probably has the most sophisticated comedy chops of the lot, fairs best. In fact, she’s not only funny, but absolutely stunning, as Louisa May’s accumulating riches allow for an astonishing array of Edith Head-designed gowns, elaborate wigs, and skimpily mod bathing suits. What a Way to Go! may be a nearly forgotten credit in most of the cast members’ careers, but at the time it was nominated for Oscars in Best Costume Design and Best Art Direction-Set Decoration—the latter particularly fitting for a film in which an entire mansion, inside and out, is painted pink.
(8/27/2025)
