The Goodbye Girl (B or 3/4 stars)
Former Broadway dancer Paula (Marsha Mason) learns she has been dumped by her married boyfriend & that he has sublet the cramped NYC apartment she lives in with her precocious 10 yr. old daughter Lucy (Quinn Cummings) in 'The Goodbye Girl' (a bittersweet love story directed by Herbert Ross, & adapted by Neil Simon - from his own play). Elliot (Richard Dreyfuss), a neurotic but charming aspiring actor, shows up shortly thereafter in the middle of the night; having subleased the apartment from Paula's ex-boyfriend. Devastated, Paula exclaims that she doesn't like Elliot, but he allows her & Lucy to stay, anyway.
Meanwhile, Elliot has landed the title role in an off-off-Broadway production of Richard III, but the director wants him to play the character as a certain stereotype of a homosexual. Reluctantly, Elliot agrees to do the role, despite realizing that it could mean the end of his acting career. And much to his alternating horror & relief, the play gets panned & quickly closes; & the once-overconfident Dreyfuss goes on a pity party drinking binge. Touched by this new vulnerable side of him, & despite her lousy track record with men, & despite their arguments, Paula & Elliot fall in love & even sleep together.
Lucy, however, starts to resent Elliot, seeing this latest love affair as a repeat of what has happened so many times before to her mother. Soon after, Elliot is offered an opportunity for a role in a film that he just can't turn down. The only catch is that the job is in Seattle & he would be gone for 4 weeks. Informed of this, Paula gets scared that Elliot is leaving her like all the other men in her life. Desperate to make her believe him that he will return, Elliot invites Paula to go with him. Paula declines, but believes his invitation to be evidence that he loves her & will come back.
The 3 main characters in 'The Goodbye Girl' are interesting. Paula's been hurt by affairs far too often; never wanting to get hurt again. Elliott is just a mess (as struggling actors tend to be). And young Lucy is apprehensive about her mom & herself being deserted again. I'm throwing this movie a bone by giving it a B (could have gone B- or C+), because really, the plot bogs down too often in yelling sessions that cheekily ends on quirky/happy notes.
Richard Dreyfuss plays a completely different character here than he did in Jaws. He irks, at times. But he mostly hits this role/performance out of the park. Mason also irks in some scenes, but then completely wins us back in others. Some scenes are way too melodramatic. Some scenes are movie gold. So as you can see, it's kind of hit & miss. You know, 'The Goodbye Girl' is not high art by any means. It's kinda stagey. There are awkward moments. But if you're a sucker for romantic comedies (with memorable songs), than you'll probably - at least - enjoy this.
Meanwhile, Elliot has landed the title role in an off-off-Broadway production of Richard III, but the director wants him to play the character as a certain stereotype of a homosexual. Reluctantly, Elliot agrees to do the role, despite realizing that it could mean the end of his acting career. And much to his alternating horror & relief, the play gets panned & quickly closes; & the once-overconfident Dreyfuss goes on a pity party drinking binge. Touched by this new vulnerable side of him, & despite her lousy track record with men, & despite their arguments, Paula & Elliot fall in love & even sleep together.
Lucy, however, starts to resent Elliot, seeing this latest love affair as a repeat of what has happened so many times before to her mother. Soon after, Elliot is offered an opportunity for a role in a film that he just can't turn down. The only catch is that the job is in Seattle & he would be gone for 4 weeks. Informed of this, Paula gets scared that Elliot is leaving her like all the other men in her life. Desperate to make her believe him that he will return, Elliot invites Paula to go with him. Paula declines, but believes his invitation to be evidence that he loves her & will come back.
The 3 main characters in 'The Goodbye Girl' are interesting. Paula's been hurt by affairs far too often; never wanting to get hurt again. Elliott is just a mess (as struggling actors tend to be). And young Lucy is apprehensive about her mom & herself being deserted again. I'm throwing this movie a bone by giving it a B (could have gone B- or C+), because really, the plot bogs down too often in yelling sessions that cheekily ends on quirky/happy notes.
Richard Dreyfuss plays a completely different character here than he did in Jaws. He irks, at times. But he mostly hits this role/performance out of the park. Mason also irks in some scenes, but then completely wins us back in others. Some scenes are way too melodramatic. Some scenes are movie gold. So as you can see, it's kind of hit & miss. You know, 'The Goodbye Girl' is not high art by any means. It's kinda stagey. There are awkward moments. But if you're a sucker for romantic comedies (with memorable songs), than you'll probably - at least - enjoy this.