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The Mating Game

Play trailer Poster for The Mating Game Released Apr 29, 1959 1h 36m Romance Comedy Play Trailer Watchlist
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Tomatometer 3 Reviews 54% Popcornmeter 100+ Ratings
Uptight IRS man Lorenzo Charlton (Tony Randall) is ordered to investigate rural rancher Pop Larkin (Paul Douglas), who is significantly in debt to the government. Lorenzo arrives in the country and is shocked to discover that Pop and his family are so oblivious to financial concerns they haven't ever bothered to do their taxes. Some moonshine, however, and Pop's lovely daughter, Mariette (Debbie Reynolds), help Lorenzo learn to relax, and he decides to help the Larkins' find a legal loophole.
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The Mating Game

Critics Reviews

View All (3) Critics Reviews
Clyde Gilmour Maclean's Magazine ...noisy but good-humored comedy. Nov 5, 2019 Full Review Dennis Schwartz Dennis Schwartz Movie Reviews Dated bucolic romantic comedy, with a few funny moments. Rated: C Sep 21, 2016 Full Review Steve Crum Dispatch-Tribune Newspapers Very dated (social mores) romantic comedy with Tony Randall paired with Debbie Reynolds. Rated: 2/5 Jul 13, 2006 Full Review Read all reviews

Audience Reviews

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Joyce L P Strong ensemble cast carries this movie along with Debbie Reynolds, and Tony Randall. A hard time in Reynolds real life, Joey Fisher had just left her and her two children for Elizabeth Taylor. She still manage to do a bang up job in this film. Rated 3 out of 5 stars 08/08/23 Full Review bearpawz Perhaps a bit corny and somewhat far-fetched, but still.... it's cute and there's some comical moments. So many movie reviewers referred to the movie as "dated". Dated?!? What is this..... a movie or a house on HGTV? It's shown on the Classic Movie Channel, so of course it shows its date ... It's supposed to. Kudos to "Charlie" for learning how to lighten up in the end! :D Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars 08/07/23 Full Review Audience Member LOL, the funniest 01 hour: and 36 minutes ever!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Rated 5 out of 5 stars 02/11/23 Full Review Audience Member Usual tax-collector-seduced-by-farmer's- daughter plot. Rated 5 out of 5 stars 01/17/23 Full Review Audience Member Debbie Reynolds' screen test for the part of Elly May Clampett in the Beverly Hillbillies. Tony Randall keeps on being the addle-witted Randall -- ever the comedic foible that Hollywood thought would make us laugh. This movie was a dizzying, and sometimes frightful, albatross with the only question being: "How can they possibly go lower than this?" But, rest assured, they always do. Rated 1 out of 5 stars 02/16/23 Full Review joe m Mildly amusing if somewhat standard boy-meets-girl from two different worlds with Randall as the stuffy city dude and Reynolds as the care-free country gal. Good cast and plot line, yet drags and is rather dated. Don't bother unless you're a fan of one of the stars or of this type of late 1950's rom-com. Rated 2.5 out of 5 stars 03/30/23 Full Review Read all reviews
The Mating Game

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Movie Info

Synopsis Uptight IRS man Lorenzo Charlton (Tony Randall) is ordered to investigate rural rancher Pop Larkin (Paul Douglas), who is significantly in debt to the government. Lorenzo arrives in the country and is shocked to discover that Pop and his family are so oblivious to financial concerns they haven't ever bothered to do their taxes. Some moonshine, however, and Pop's lovely daughter, Mariette (Debbie Reynolds), help Lorenzo learn to relax, and he decides to help the Larkins' find a legal loophole.
Director
George Marshall
Producer
Philip Barry Jr.
Production Co
Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer
Genre
Romance, Comedy
Original Language
English
Release Date (Theaters)
Apr 29, 1959, Limited
Release Date (Streaming)
Jun 22, 2009
Runtime
1h 36m
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