College professor Ronald Reagan (yes, our 40th U.S. President) wants to marry his sweetheart Diana Lynn, but her father (the dean of the university) is not sure he wants his daughter with Reagan. The reason for this is the fact that Reagan's father is a life-long felon who has been in and out of correctional facilities throughout his life. Thus Reagan hatches an elaborate scheme to show that environment is the reason why beings do what they do and not genetics. He kidnaps the titled character (a chimpanzee) in the hopes of the animal being able to distinguish between right and wrong at Reagan's house. The film is pure slap-stick and works mainly due to the animal more than anything else. Reagan is adequate as he was throughout his ho-hum Hollywood career. His experience with "Bedtime for Bonzo" made him perfect for the chaotic world of politics. 2.5 out of 5 stars.
Review of Bedtime for Bonzo
