Oh Jaynie. Some think of her only as a Marilyn Monroe wannabe. The similarities are there...blonde, breathy speaking voice, curves that are out of this world. But where Marilyn had a vulnerability in her, a realness, Jayne is like a superhero goofball cartoon. Everything is exaggerated. I adore her!
The Girl Can't Help It stars Tom Ewell as Tom Miller, a press agent, and Jayne Mansfield as Jerri Jordan, a gangster's girlfriend who Tom is supposed to turn into the next singing sensation. Except...she can't sing. Glasses literally break when she tries. But the gangster still thinks she could be a star, Tom and Jerri start spending a lot of time together, and I'd imagine you could figure out the rest.
This is a really fun film. It's silly, it's over-the-top, Jayne teeters around like a blonde Jessica Rabbit while things explode and react all around her. But besides being a celebration of Jayne Mansfield's anatomy, this film is a BIG celebration of rock & roll. It features performances by Little Richard, Eddie Cochran, and Gene Vincent among others, and even has Julie London performing "Cry Me A River" as her ghostly image haunts Tom Miller (she's supposed to be his ex). Great music all around! Yes it's campy and ridiculous, but we all need that every once in a while, don't you think?
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