I have yet to comprehend Rock Hudson's popularity with 1950s and 1960s audiences beyond beefcake appeal. In his Douglas Sirk melodramas, he's usually serviceable, but in a comedy like this, I found him stiff, a veritable charisma void. Unfortunately, he carries most of the movie. Doris Day is usually wonderful, but here she plays a shrill, ditzy housewife, annoying where Hudson is merely dull. They share no chemistry at all.
Honestly, the script might be the main culprit. It does nothing even remotely creative with its premise, only shining when a fun supporting character like Paul Lynde's cemetery plot director makes a dandy (and all too brief) appearance. Director Norman Jewison could certainly do comedy judging by later efforts like THE RUSSIANS ARE COMING, THE RUSSIANS ARE COMING, but SEND ME NO FLOWERS just falls flat.
Honestly, the script might be the main culprit. It does nothing even remotely creative with its premise, only shining when a fun supporting character like Paul Lynde's cemetery plot director makes a dandy (and all too brief) appearance. Director Norman Jewison could certainly do comedy judging by later efforts like THE RUSSIANS ARE COMING, THE RUSSIANS ARE COMING, but SEND ME NO FLOWERS just falls flat.