The Six Wives of Henry Lefay – DVD Review

DVD Reviews, Reviews



It’s unfortunate that Tim Allen can’t seem to get more mainstream work, as he continues to show he’s still got the ability to bring the laughs in his most recent film The Six Wives of Henry Lefay. Allen stars as Henry Lefay, an eccentric audio/video salesman who has a way with the ladies, to the point of building up quite a resume of wives, both past and present. While the film mostly revolves around the women in his life, and the impact his character has had on them during his life, Allen brings great comedic timing to the table, and a charm that on some wacky level helps you understand why all these women constantly fall under his spell.

While Allen is the most recognizable name across the board, it must be said that this film is carried by Elisha Cuthbert (24, The Girl Next Door), who plays Henry’s daughter Barbie. Constantly pulled out of her actual life that she’s built for herself by her father and his schemes and ideas, Barbie always seems to find herself as the mediator between her father and whatever ex-wife/girlfriend/wife/fiancee that he happens to be having problems with at the present time. It’s no surprise that she finds it hard to believe her father has actually been presumed dead, as she’s told at the start of the film, and she has to come back home to help prepare the funeral arrangements. Still in shock, Barbie recalls the last time she spoke to her father, one year earlier, and it’s during this time that we get to see what a crazy world she grew up in, and where most of the scenes involving Allen take place.

When she finally arrives home, Barbie meets up with her mother, Kate (Andie MacDowell), who’s Henry’s first wife. She introduces her mother to her boyfriend, Lloyd (Eric Christian Olsen), who has accompanied her on the trip to show his support. Barbie explains to him that they’re about to enter the circus, though it isn’t until the rest of the wives are introduced that he truly grasps the meaning of what Barbie was trying to prepare him for.

Wife number two and four (that’s right, twice) is the crazy, yet infatuated, Ophelia (Jenna Elfman), who made a hobby of chasing Henry around the neighborhood, sometimes clothed, sometimes barely clothed, with a knife, threatening his manhood; however, at the same time, never could stop loving him. Wife number three would be Veronica (Paz Vega), a woman who took 50% of Henry’s business in their divorce, and remained his business partner for 10 years until his presumed untimely death. Finally, wife number five, Autumn (Lindsay Sloane), a young woman no older than his daughter, who found herself completely in love with Henry, even though he didn’t fully feel the same way, as is to be found out in quite a funny scene.

In fact, the entire movie is quite funny, as I found myself laughing aloud through a good chunk of it. While it’s quite predictable on some levels, the delivery, and just pure wackiness of it all is somehow contagious, and you can’t help but to laugh. Sometimes it’s enjoyable to just let yourself go and take a movie on the lightest of levels and enjoy it for what it’s trying to do. There’s some great scenes to be found here between Allen and Cuthbert, and the way things constantly tie together is just fun. It’s not a film to be taken seriously, as there are plot holes of sorts – or at least one gaping one – that would stop the film dead in its tracks, and kill the entire story instantly.

The Six Wives of Henry Lefay is surprisingly funny, and well worth a watch. I’m not exactly sure how well it would fair on repeat viewings, as it did seem a little long in the tooth at times. However, I have a strong suspicion that the terrific work by Allen, as well as the great job done by all the women in the film, especially Cuthbert, would bring the laughs once again in round two.

The audio is presented in 5.1 Dolby Digital and comes through loud and clear. There’s no fumbling with the remote, or straining to hear conversations to be found here. The video is presented in 16×9 2.35 Anamorphic and it looks great as well. There’s honestly no real noticeable video faults to be found here, which is good, as the film is quite colourful, and filled with bright scenes that come through beautifully.

There are no extras to be found on this release.

The Six Wives of Henry Lefay is a film that, if given the chance and not taken too seriously, many will likely enjoy. Tim Allen once again shows why he was the king of comedy for so long, and Elisha Cuthbert shows that given the right material, she’s more than just a pretty face.


Ring Productions Presents a Brillstein Entertainment Partners/Holly Wiersma Production The Six Wives of Henry Lefay. Directed by: Howard Michael Gould. Starring: Tim Allen, Elisha Cuthbert, Jenny Elfman, Andie MacDowell, Paz Vega. Running time: 95 minutes. Rating: PG. Released on DVD: October 19, 2010.



Brendan Campbell was here when Inside Pulse Movies began, and he’ll be here when it finishes - in 2012, when a cataclysmic event wipes out the servers, as well as everyone else on the planet other than John Cusack and those close to him. Brendan’s the #1 supporter of Keanu Reeves, a huge fan of popcorn flicks and a firm believer that sheer entertainment can take a film a long way. He currently resides in Canada, where, for reasons stated above, he’s attempting to get closer to John Cusack.