Review of The Goodbye Girl (1977) by Michael C — 30 Jan 2011

For Fans Of: Romance, Richard Dreyfuss, Neil Simon.

Date Night: Approved.

Art Factor: Low.

Fun Factor: Medium.

Emotional Factor: Low.

Intelligence Factor: Low.

Essential Viewing: Yes.

The Plot: A struggling actor is forced to share an apartment with a single mom.

My Take: This movie is all about two things in my humble opinion: the wonderful Neil Simon script and the Oscar winning performance by Richard Dreyfuss. Dreyfuss, who at the time was the youngest actor to ever when the best actor oscar (Adrian Brody now holds the distinction) put on a show. If all leading men in romatic comedies were this talented maybe it wouldn't take threats of withholding sex to get most men to watch them. The script by Simon plays out like classic Woody Allen, if Allen checked his ego and his need to over think everything at the door. Never sappy but always with a sentimental edge, the script makes you wonder where this genre went so terribly wrong. All three leads were nominated for Oscars but after viewing it is easy to see why Dreyfuss is the only one who walked away with his statue. Not to say Marsha Mason and Quinn Cummings don't give wonderful performances, it's just that Dreyfuss damn near writes the textbook on how to be a charming beta male in a romatic comedy. Seth Rogen, I hope you watch this film soon. Also nominated for best picture, The Goodbye Girl is a must-see for lovers of quick witted scripts and romantic comedies that reach for than tissue boxes.