the fresh films reviews

S I N C E   1 9 9 7










 

The Goodbye Girl (1977)

Director:
Herbert Ross
COUNTRY
USA
GENRE
Comedy/Romance
NORWEGIAN TITLE
-
RUNNING TIME
110 minutes
Producer:
Ray Stark
Screenwriter:
Neil Simon


Cast includes:

CHARACTER ACTOR/ACTRESS RATING
Elliot Garfield Richard Dreyfuss
Paula McFadden Marsha Mason ½
Lucy McFAdden Quinn Cummings ½
Mark Paul Benedict ½
Donna Barbara Rhoades
Mrs. Crosby Theresa Merritt
Rhonda Patricia Pearcy
Oliver Fry Nicol Williamson

 

Review

Sally Field lookalike Marsha Mason and her 10-year-old daughter is abandoned by their actor partner/stepdad, only for another self-important actor (Richard Dreyfuss) to move in with a sublease contract in hand. Quippy bickering turns to inevitable romance in predictable fashion, but screenwriter Neil Simon is able to give the story so much zest and intellectual candy along the way, which coupled with Dreyfuss' brilliant, living-breathing performance makes the film a joy to watch. His Henry III is hilarious, and so are several of his other antics. Elliot Garfield is a brilliantly conceived movie character. Unfortunately, Paula McFadden is far closer to stock material from which Marsha Mason isn't quite able to elevate her. But the culminating romance, albeit largely asexual, invigorates her. All three leads were Oscar nominated, with Dreyfuss winning, his one and only Academy Award.

Copyright © 13.06.2018 Fredrik Gunerius Fevang

[BACK TO INDEX]

[HAVE YOUR SAY]