Review of What's Up, Doc? (1972) by Adam S — 13 Aug 2010

Noted film buff Peter Bogdanovich does his best to emulate his comedy master's with this nutty romantic screwball comedy, which pits a young, sexy Barbra Streisand opposite heartthrob Ryan O'Neal and a strong cast of supporting players, as everybody chases after four mixed-up plaid carryalls.

Like even the best screwball comedies of the 30's and 40's, the jokes are hit-or-miss, especially from Streisand and O'Neal, who can hardly be considered top comedians, but the supporting cast is so good, including Mel Brooks regulars Kenneth Mars and Madeline Kahn, that they make up for the sometimes awkwardness of the leads.

And then there's that 15-minute San Francisco chase sequence, dedicated certainly to the Keystone Cops and every chase scene ever committed to film by Buster Keaton and Harold Lloyd, which is so funny and crazy, the final two scenes of the film flop in comparison.

Bogdanovich was never a master film-maker, but he's an expert film historian, and this homage is proof positive.