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Poster for Hardly Working

Hardly Working

The world's funniest funny man is back!

1980 · 1h 31m · PG Comedy
Directed by Jerry Lewis

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Overview

In Jerry Lewis's first film in a decade, he plays Bo Hooper, an unemployed circus clown who can't seem to hold down a job. The film opens with a brief montage of clips from past Lewis movies. He then moves into a succession of jobs that he gets himself fired from including a gas station attendant and a mailman - all with disastrous results.

Director and cast

Critics on Rotten Tomatoes

Top critics, in their words

All reviews
9%
Tomatometer
Rotten

The movie's desperately amiable tone plays like a chastised boy's terrified plea for love; the oblivious cruelty that emerges nonetheless (as in Lewis's embarrassing parody of a Japanese chef) makes it all the sadder.

Richard Brody, New Yorker
Rotten

I was absolutely stunned by the vast stupidity of this film.

Roger Ebert, Chicago Sun-Times
Rotten

The result is utter confusion.

Janet Maslin, New York Times
Fresh

Lewis has described this as his worst movie, but it also may be his most revealing one.

Jonathan Rosenbaum, Chicago Reader

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