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 something like a wild ride on screen. Even setting aside the missing songs—a significant disappointment for some—the film feels too long to truly reach the level of a great comedy classic. I believe it could have achieved the brilliance that certain scenes suggest if it had been trimmed down to around 100 minutes. However, there’s still plenty to appreciate, and anyone expecting a dull movie is mistaken because it certainly has its funny moments; but how far can you extend a gag, Mr. Wilder? What really stands out is just how Billy Wilder managed to get such an openly sexual comedy past the censors. He seems to push boundaries further than usual here, and I’d be surprised if he himself wasn't astonished that he got away with so much playful innuendo. The sets are wonderful, thanks to Alexandre Trauner, and Andre Previn's score perfectly complements the Parisian feel of the film, but the main performers don't quite seem to be at their best. Jack Lemmon’s hopelessly romantic Nestor is meant to be the source of most of the humor—a character who becomes jealous of himself! His change into an English dandy is funny initially, but it goes on and on until the joke starts to weigh down the film. Lemmon isn't bad; he's simply a casualty of Wilder’s overreaching ambition. Shirley MacLaine plays Irma, and her performance doesn't quite work; she certainly throws herself into it and looks great (as always), but the role really needed an actress with more international experience, which again points to Wilder losing focus on this project. It’s a good recommendation for those who enjoy Jack Lemmon’s films, but for fans of Billy Wilder like myself, the problems are clear despite being his highest-grossing film of that decade. A cautious 7/10.

Source on TMDB