Yes, the script and gags are wittier than any other romance of its era but I found The Apartment (1960) to be somewhat of a headache to get through.

The boss adulterer had WAY too much screentime and way too many lines for being a one-dimensional antagonist. None of the clever lines of the movie were written for him, it was just "don't you see how difficult of a position this is, being married and all?" over and over and over again.

Baxter's main attribute being "can't say no" wasn't particularly compelling either. The sappy and somewhat unbelievable ending felt off after just seeing Sunset Boulevard--I know audiences want every conflict to have a perfect resolution (especially in romances), but in this case it's definitely silly. It's not enough that Baxter has truly learned to say no, he has to also get the girl who has just now had a change of heart immediately after the boss leaves his wife.

Do I think The Apartment is overrated? Yes. But I really wish the cinematography in Billy Wilder's films was a little more impressive; I think that would make the works deserving of the prestige they currently hold.