What's Up, Doc? (1972)

A Vibrant comedy that successfully captures the quality of those wonderful 1930's screwball classics. Director Bogdanovich makes the viewing and the homage worthwhile with an energetic performance from Streisand as a crazy coed who manages to disrupt the life styles of a square musicologist and his fiancee (O'Neal and Kahn, lovely in her film debut). There is great support from Mars, Murphy and a young Randy Quaid.

Fmovies: Delicious, rapid-fire screwball romp. Barbra Streisand (looking radiant) plays a freeloading kook who brings havoc and chaos to everyone in San Francisco. Peter Bogdanovich has directed a true comic gem, with absent-minded professor Ryan O'Neal the perfect foil for Barbra's nuttiness; Madeline Kahn in a fizzy, frantic debut as O'Neal's domineering fiancée; Austin Pendleton terrific as Mr. Larrabee, who spells out fun ("F.U.N."); Kenneth Mars hilarious as O'Neal's primping, preening competitor for the Larrabee Grant. In the days before cable-TV and VHS rentals, "What's Up, Doc?" played theatrically for a couple of years. Obviously in love with classic cinema, Bogdanovich turns out to be a real audience-pleaser of his own; he masterfully sets up gags that might otherwise be corny or familiar and gives them a fresh, groovy spin. ***1/2 from ****

This is one of the really great screwball comedies, with classic performances from all, especially the supporting cast. Ken Mars as Hugh Simon ("I'm Hugh." "You're me?" "No, I'm Hugh!" "Stop saying that! Make him stop saying that!"), Madeline Kahn in her screen debut, but especially Liam Dunn as the judge. Although this was one of his first "star" turns, he just about steals the show in his one big courtroom scene. I could watch that one scene over and over.

If you haven't seen this one, you're missing a classic. Check it out.

What's Up, Doc? fmovies. A friend of mine recently recommended this film to me. I am not a big Barbra Streisand fan so it took me about 20 minutes to get into this film. Once I was in, I was hooked! So rarely do I laugh out loud at comedies from this time period. I especially liked the hotel detective using his "charm" to delay Mrs. Van Hoskins. Kenneth Mars and Liam Dunn were hilarious, too. If physical comedy is not your bag, you may not like What's Up, Doc? But this is definitely one of my favorite comedies...even better than the old comedies to which it is supposed to be an homage. I'm glad someone listed many of the funny quotes from the film in Message Boards. I want to buy this DVD!

This film is very funny and stays so even after repeated viewings. The plot is silly, but it doesn't matter - the film is not about plot, so much as its about how this oddball bunch of characters interact - and the situations and dialog carry the film along effortlessly. Streisand and O'Neil are wonderful - surprisingly so. A much underseen and underappreciated film.

I won't give away too much of the plot, but let's just say 5 identical bags get mixed up in San Francisco. Barbra Streisand hasn't been in a lot of films and after seeing this, I have to say, more's the pity. She sparkles in this film! Of course, the film itself is a madcap adventure and she just fit right in. Ryan O'Neal and the always-hilarious (unfortunately, late) Madeline Kahn also make this movie just a hoot to watch! Watch a lot of comedy before you watch this one so your laughing muscles will be in shape - that way you won't hurt yourself! This is a funny funny movie!