Rating: 
Summary: "I don't - like - the panties - hanging - on - the rod!"
Review: In 1977, movie theater audiences were treated to what is probably Neil Simon's best writing with the film "The Goodbye Girl". Directed by Herbert Ross (1927-2001, who later directed "Steel Magnolias" in 1989), the film stars Richard Dreyfuss as the aspiring actor Elliot Garfield, Marsha Mason as former dancer Paula McFadden and Quinn Cummings as Paula's 10-year old daughter Lucy. The film begins with Paula and Lucy returning to their New York City apartment from a long day of shopping. They are preparing to move to California with Paula's boyfriend, Tony Deforest (not shown), who is another aspiring actor that just got an acting job in a Hollywood film. Upon getting home, Tony isn't there, but she finds a note that he left for her. The note is not what Paula wanted or expected to hear: Tony left without her and Lucy. Paula learns from building manager Mrs. Crosby (Theresa Merritt, 1924-1998) the next morning that loveable Tony did something else too: he sublet the apartment. Not having the money to move, Paula decides that she and Lucy will remain in the apartment. When the subletee arrives (Elliot), she reluctantly agrees to share the apartment with him. The resulting mutually antagonistic relationship slowly evolves into something quite different.For his work in "The Goodbye Girl", Richard Dreyfuss won the much deserved Oscar for Best Actor. Marsha Mason was nominated for Best Actress and Quinn Cummings was nominated for Best Supporting Actress. The film itself was nominated for Best Picture and Neil Simon was nominated for Best Screenplay Written Directly for the Screen. Some of the very memorable scenes in the film include Paula & Lucy's arrival home at the beginning of the film, Elliot's arrival, the living arrangements, Elliot's rehearsals, Paula's exercises, Lucy's stomachache, Elliot's alternate employment, the Chianti, the rooftop dinner, the carriage ride and the closing scenes. Other memorable characters include Elliot's off-Broadway director Mark (Paul Benedict, known for his portrayal of Harry Bentley in the 1975-1985 TV series "The Jeffersons") and Donna Douglas (Barbara Rhoades). Overall, I rate the 1977 version of "The Goodbye Girl" with a resounding 5 out of 5 stars. It's a wonderfully engaging film that continues to entertain to this day. The 2004 television remake that starred Jeff Daniels as Elliot and Patricia Heaton as Paula was not anywhere as good as the original.
Rating:
Summary: "I don't - like - the panties - hanging - on - the rod!"
Review: In 1977, movie theater audiences were treated to what is probably Neil Simon's best writing with the film "The Goodbye Girl". Directed by Herbert Ross (1927-2001, who later directed "Steel Magnolias" in 1989), the film stars Richard Dreyfuss as the aspiring actor Elliot Garfield, Marsha Mason as former dancer Paula McFadden and Quinn Cummings as Paula's 10-year old daughter Lucy. The film begins with Paula and Lucy returning to their New York City apartment from a long day of shopping. They are preparing to move to California with Paula's boyfriend, Tony Deforest (not shown), who is another aspiring actor that just got an acting job in a Hollywood film. Upon getting home, Tony isn't there, but she finds a note that he left for her. The note is not what Paula wanted or expected to hear: Tony left without her and Lucy. Paula learns from building manager Mrs. Crosby (Theresa Merritt, 1924-1998) the next morning that loveable Tony did something else too: he sublet the apartment. Not having the money to move, Paula decides that she and Lucy will remain in the apartment. When the subletee arrives (Elliot), she reluctantly agrees to share the apartment with him. The resulting mutually antagonistic relationship slowly evolves into something quite different. For his work in "The Goodbye Girl", Richard Dreyfuss won the much deserved Oscar for Best Actor. Marsha Mason was nominated for Best Actress and Quinn Cummings was nominated for Best Supporting Actress. The film itself was nominated for Best Picture and Neil Simon was nominated for Best Screenplay Written Directly for the Screen. Some of the very memorable scenes in the film include Paula & Lucy's arrival home at the beginning of the film, Elliot's arrival, the living arrangements, Elliot's rehearsals, Paula's exercises, Lucy's stomachache, Elliot's alternate employment, the Chianti, the rooftop dinner, the carriage ride and the closing scenes. Other memorable characters include Elliot's off-Broadway director Mark (Paul Benedict, known for his portrayal of Harry Bentley in the 1975-1985 TV series "The Jeffersons") and Donna Douglas (Barbara Rhoades). Overall, I rate the 1977 version of "The Goodbye Girl" with a resounding 5 out of 5 stars. It's a wonderfully engaging film that continues to entertain to this day. The 2004 television remake that starred Jeff Daniels as Elliot and Patricia Heaton as Paula was not anywhere as good as the original.
Rating: 
Summary: the good-bye girl
Review: My favorite Neil Simon movie! Quick witted dialog, you must not miss a line! A comedic love story that will stand the test of time. As good the first time you saw it! Marsha Mason is an under-rated comedic actress and Richard Dreyfuss is as fine an all-around actor as the famed Gary Grant! A 5 star movie.
Rating:
Summary: Great Movie>>>No Xtra Features!
Review: One of the greatest romantic comedies ever! DVD looks good...just no xtra features whatsoever..
Rating:
Summary: AFI's Great Love Stories: #81 "The Goodbye Girl"
Review: Richard Dreyfuss won the Oscar for his performance in "The Goodbye Girl," and Marsha Mason was married to the playwright, but I remember thinking that it young scene stealing Quinn Cummings who probably had more talent that the other two put together. But then Cummings, after a nice turn on the classic TV domestic drama "Family," has not been seen since "Listen to Me," the 1988 film about college debaters starring Kirk Cameron and Jamie Gertz. Meanwhile, it is Dreyfuss who has resurrected his career as an older curmudgeon. In "The Goodbye Girl" Dreyfuss plays a young curmudgeon, Elliot Garfield, a struggling actor who has made the fateful mistake of sub-letting an apartment in the Big Apple from a friend. The problem is that the friend split town leaving behind his girl friend, Paula McFadden (Mason) and her daughter Lucy (Cummings), who are not thrilled with the idea of being put out on the street. After a series of initial diatribes (including the classic scene where each lays down the law for the other in turn), an uneasy alliance is agreed upon and we wait for the inevitable meeting of much more than the minds between the feuding couple. The title of Neil Simon's play has to do with the fact that Paula always gets dumped in the end and the prospect of happiness does nothing to deter her absolute belief in the inevitability of her unhappiness. An added treat in this film is Elliot's performance in Shakespeare's "Richard III," which, as directed off-Broadway by Mark (Paul Benedict), insists the king was gay. Really gay. Incredibly, ... out of the closet and way over the rainbow gay. Most Romantic Line: "What is it about you that makes a man with a hundred forty-seven I.Q. feel like a dribbling idiot?" What did you expect? This is a Neil Simon story so there are dozens of great one-liners, none of them especially romantic. If you like "The Goodbye Girl," then check out these other films on AFI's list: #38 "It Happened One Night," #25 "When Harry Met Sally," #17 "Moonstruck," and #14 "The African Queen." Why? Because these are also films in which two obviously mismatched people are thrown together by circumstances and eventually live happily ever after. Apparently, this is a very successful formula when it comes to romance movies.
Rating:
Summary: AN OUTSTANDING CLASSIC
Review: The appeal of this movie has not diminished over time. it remains as much of an enjoyable classic today as when it was released. Richard Dreyfuss does outstanding work, his character is compassionate enough to allow his apartment to be shared by a single mother and her daughter who had it sublet without their knowledge and have no where to go. The banter between the two leads and their immediate dislike of each other turns softer as the movie goes on. The character of Lucy (the daughter) is played to perfection. She does not understand her mothers bad taste in men or her new dislike. The dialog was very well written. Again - a classic. Buy it and enjoy it again and again.
Rating:
Summary: Terrific!
Review: The original Goodbye Girl movie is a terrific movie and Marsha Mason and Richard Dreyfuss are great as Paula and Elliot and I recommend this movie very highly! I watched the remake on TNT and it isn't as good as the original but has it's moments which is mainly the good performance from Patricia Heaton as Paula. Okay, I prefer Marsha Mason as Paula but Patricia Heaton was good and though not as good as Quinn Cummings was as Paula's daughter Lucy I think Hallie Kate Eisenberg gave a decent performance. Jeff Daniels was alright as Elliot but Richard Dreyfuss was better and gave a more inspired performance so the original version is definitely the best!!
Rating:
Summary: Richard Dreyfuss' best performance to date
Review: The reason why this movie is so hysterically funny is because the timing is amazing. Any two actors can repeat lines they have memorized but Marsha Mason and Richard Dreyfuss go beyond that. When they have to be sarcastic they are when they have to act in love they do. Everything in this movie works. Dreyfuss deserved his Oscar for this role. Perfect film for anyone who loves a good comedy with a mix of romance.
Rating:
Summary: Richard Dreyfuss' best performance to date
Review: The reason why this movie is so hysterically funny is because the timing is amazing. Any two actors can repeat lines they have memorized but Marsha Mason and Richard Dreyfuss go beyond that. When they have to be sarcastic they are when they have to act in love they do. Everything in this movie works. Dreyfuss deserved his Oscar for this role. Perfect film for anyone who loves a good comedy with a mix of romance.
Rating: 
Summary: I beg to differ....
Review: This is my least favorite film of all time. Richard Dreyfuss jogging in place in the kitchen while eating yogurt tops the list for images of contrived, neurotic, insipid, self-indulgent pseudo-eccentricity. There was little or no credible chemistry between the main characters, nor were they at all interesting individually. This film made "Love Story" seem like high art by comparison.
| 
