DEAN AND ME

Despite his notorious ego, Jerry Lewis's memoir and encomium is balanced, even self-deprecating. As one would expect, it contains plenty of humor in its sentimental account of his professional and personal relationship with Dean Martin, when they teamed with great success as a comedy duo. Lewis effusively attributes numerous virtues to his partner and freely admits his own failings. Narrator Stephen Hoye tries to give a sense of personality to both characters but pulls back on the author's more abrasive aspects. One is grateful that he, not Lewis, is delivering this well-told, sentimental true story. Y.R. © AudioFile 2006, Portland, Maine [Published: APR/ MAY 06]