Mad About Men

Peter Blackmore scripted this weak whimsical fantasy, a Technicolor sequel to 1948's black-and-white "Miranda" (which had been based upon Blackmore's play). Glynis Johns returns as the romantic-minded mermaid who swims in the waters off Cornwall; she chances to meet her human twin, a distant relative and school-mistress who is about to be married to a stuffy engineer. Blackmore clearly relishes the chance to open up his scenario and throw in some wild bits of humor--and Johns in a dual role is certainly an inspired idea--but most of the warmth from the first film is missing. Miranda's true identity is discovered by a jealous female, who hopes to exploit the siren on-stage during a charity benefit (!), while Caroline, Miranda's twin, has to rush home from a biking trip to save the mermaid from catastrophe. Faintly enjoyable and yet too much of a good thing, what with corny one-liners and Margaret Rutherford overacting like mad in a reprisal of her role as Miranda's eccentric nurse and confidante. Blackmore and director Ralph Thomas raise a big laugh or two, but their chaotic finale is a complete muck-up, and the film's editing and continuity are disappointing. ** from ****