Among Billy Wilder’s films, this one tends to provoke strong reactions from those who admire his work. The adaptation of Alexandre Breffort's stage musical, Irma la Douce, becomes a rather uneven experience on screen. Even setting aside the lack of songs—a significant disappointment for some—the film feels excessively long and doesn’t quite reach the level of a truly great comedy. I believe it could have been something special if trimmed down to around 100 minutes, as certain moments suggest a real potential for brilliance. Nevertheless, there's still plenty here to appreciate, and anyone expecting a dull movie is mistaken because it certainly has its funny moments; however, one does wonder how much further the humor could have been stretched, Mr. Wilder. What stands out most is just how Billy Wilder managed to get away with such an overtly sexual comedy under the censorship rules of the time. He really pushed the limits here, and I’d be genuinely surprised if he himself wasn't taken aback by how much suggestive content made it through. Alexandre Trauner’s sets are wonderful, and Andre Previn’s score perfectly complements the film’s Parisian setting, but the main actors don’t quite deliver their best performances. Jack Lemmon is amusing as the hopelessly romantic Nestor, a character who essentially becomes jealous of himself! His transformation into an English dandy is initially very funny, but it goes on and on until the joke starts to feel like a burden for the film. Mr. Lemmon isn't bad; he’s simply a casualty of Wilder’s overreaching ambition. Shirley MacLaine plays Irma, and her portrayal doesn't entirely succeed; she brings energy to the role and looks lovely, as always, but I think it needed an actress with more international flair—another instance where Wilder seemed to lose focus on this project. It’s a fairly easy recommendation for Jack Lemmon fans, but for those of us who revere Billy Wilder, the issues are clear despite the film being his highest-grossing of the decade. A cautious 7/10.

Source on TMDB