Wednesday, August 12, 2020

Good Morning World

.
Last week I did a post about my ambiguous attitude towards comedy, asking y'all for suggestions of movies that make you laugh, and I got a lot of terrific suggestions both there and on Twitter -- I am still getting them today even, and y'all can keep them coming. And one of the movies that came up more than once was Peter Bogdonovich's 1972 romp What's Up Doc? starring Barbra Streisand, Ryan O'Neal and (best of all) Madeline Kahn. Since I just have never gotten the appeal of Streisand (I know, I handed my Gay Card back ages ago though) it was the last name that got me to actually watch the movie, and Kahn was the highlight... alongside what a showcase it was for Prime Ryan O'Neal ogling. My god.

(These gifs aren't from Doc obviously -- they are from Oliver's Story in 1978, which I have not seen... but you'll see why I chose this movie instead down below.) Anyway besides Kahn being hysterical and O'Neal qualifying for the 70s Sex Symbol Hall of Fame I did not like What's Up Doc?. I found it belligerently try-hard -- wacky in the sense that it whacked me in the head until it gave me a headache. It's actually a prime example of my pickiness re: comedy though -- it was very Marx Brothers, and I can't stand the Marx Brothers either. You're so loud! Why are you screaming at me? It exhausts me. Anyway I am glad I saw it, for Kahn and so I could spend some time ogling O'Neal... like here, now, after the jump...








14 comments:

joel65913 said...

He was a choice specimen in the 70's too bad he's such a horrible man in real life. Aside from his beauty-and Candice Bergen's-Oliver's Story is trash. But then Love Story was too so as a continuation I guess that's no surprise.

Sorry you didn't like What's Up Doc? I love it but every movie isn't for everyone. Although glad to hear that the divine one-Madeline Khan was as irresistible to you as she is to all other sensible humans!

Pierce said...

What's Up Doc? is a tribute to the screwball comedies of the 1930s, specifically Bringing Up Baby, which is an absolute treat. While it can't hold a candle to Baby, What's Up Doc is funny and it shows off San Francisco to great advantage. Love Story was of its time, but seen today, it's an arrogant movie about a guy who is in love, but treats her in typical male fashion. I think it was Molly Haskell who said that she didn't die from cancer, she died from not being able to play the piano." I agree with joel65913. Oliver's Story is trash, but Candice Bergen is terrific in it. Streisand isn't everyone's cup of tea. However, she, too, is of her time. Funny Girl, The Way We Were, Yentl, The Guilt Trip, The Owl and the Pussycat have their own virtues. I even love Hello, Dolly! I have my opinions about it, but I think, too, it depends on which of Streisand's movies you saw first. If it was shit like A Star is Born, All Night Long or For Pete's Sake (a script that Doris Day had turned down), I get it. But she has done good work over the decades and she's supportive of gay rights.

Jason Adams said...

I have nothing against BS in real life, she's been a die-hard Democrat who uses her voice for good causes and she was smart enough to snatch James Brolin to boot. Wish her nothing but well. Her thing on-screen though, whatever it is, it's just not for me. The first Streisand I probably saw would've been The Mirror Has Two Faces or The Prince of Tides, those just make sense time-wise, I came of movie age in the 90s. My parents weren't showing me old movies, I had to go do that on my own. I'll admit I've never seen several of her big films but when I do make the effort it's like this, What's Up Doc, where everybody says this'll be the one I like her, and I don't. I am for the time being done with trying :)

KingRoper said...

I've had several friends finally watch "What's Up, Doc?" only to say later it was just ok. I think it's the kind of film that gets better every time you see it, as you begin to see the meticulous timings and set-ups that pay off later. It's the only BS film that I enjoy, and yes, Ryan O'Neal in the bow tie and boxers (which allegedly inspired the Chippendale's look) was a formative part of my life.
A bit of trivia: they had permission to shoot on the steps of Alta Vista Park, but definitely NOT to drive 5 cars down its steps. There is still damage from it visible today, and it caused a ban on location permits in SF for some time after.
Do you also not like "Paper Moon"?

KingRoper said...

I've had several friends finally watch "What's Up, Doc?" only to say later it was just ok. I think it's the kind of film that gets better every time you see it, as you begin to see the meticulous timings and set-ups that pay off later. It's the only BS film that I enjoy, and yes, Ryan O'Neal in the bow tie and boxers (which allegedly inspired the Chippendale's look) was a formative part of my life.
A bit of trivia: they had permission to shoot on the steps of Alta Vista Park, but definitely NOT to drive 5 cars down its steps. There is still damage from it visible today, and it caused a ban on location permits in SF for some time after.
Do you also not like "Paper Moon"?

Anonymous said...

I tried watching Owl and the Pussycat last week. Streisand’s character was so annoying, I gave up 15 minutes in.

Jason Adams said...

LOVE Paper Moon. I should do a list of fave Bogdonovich movies some time soon since he's been so talked about lately with all his own media pushes and the Polly Platt podcast. Plus I just re-watched Targets and god I fucking love Targets. I find Bogdonovich himself incredibly annoying though, I can't listen to him talk for longer than a minute, he's unbearable -- the epitome of smug. But he made some terrific movies, I can't dispute that.

It's funny you bring up the shot of the steps getting fucked up because the bf and I were both like WTF as that happened -- you can see the damage happening there on-screen.

Anonymous said...

I think Streisand can be a wonderful actress and comedy comes easy to her (she and Dustin soar above the crap that is Meet the Fockers for example, they should have had their own movie).

You may find her old movies dated (Funny Girl, Hello Dolly and On A Clear Day, her first three) but there are moments when you see that given good direction she is good, her voice is of course one of the best ever and she's like a fish in water singing Broadway stuff. On A Clear Day is one of my favourites where she has this kind of quirky physical comedy going on and plays silly and in the next moment regal. I never thought much of Owl and Pussycat and A Star Is Born is terrible.

The Way We Were is where she gave her best dramatic performance in my opinion and there is no question that she and Redford had a ton of chemistry together. There are moments in Nuts that she's almost there, others where she falls flat and most when she is trying to much... once again, with a better director she could have pulled out a better performance.

Give The Way We Were a try one of these days or On A Clear Day.

Astroboymn said...

I'm with you, Jason, What's Up Doc? is very over-rated. It has some wonderful moments but it strains far too much, esp in the final third. Someone above said it gets better every time you see it, whereas I think it gets more and more mechanical each time. Ryan O'Neal was def very sexy at in the 70s but he was no Cary Grant. I will also give him props for aggressively praising Polly Platt after she died, and publicly acknowledging that w/o Platt's contributions, Bogdonavich's career wouldn't have been half of what it was. I agree that Bogdonavich is pretty gross in real life but I dearly love Paper Moon and Last Picture Show.

Unknown said...

I’ve never seen What’s up Doc because my dad told me it was bad. Surely you’ve seen Bringing Up Baby? I was going to mention it when I saw your tweet but thought you had to be familiar. If not, now you have to watch it. Then cap it all off with Madonna in Who’s that girl which is truly awful but.... still funny?

ferretrick said...

I haven't seen What's Up Doc, but I'll join you on the Streisand hate. Can't stand her-never could. Prince of Tides is one of my favorite books and she turned it into utter crap. Her character and especially the love story with her and Nick Nolte are less than 25% of the book but you'd never know it from the movie, which featured Barbara Streisand's Manicure in a leading role.

I dont' know why I couldn't think of it before, but Clue is another comedy that always makes me laugh. If you don't like screwball and loud it might not be for you but it's like Airplane-terrific cast, and as many bad jokes as good ones but flying so fast you don't notice.

Also, Opposite of Sex. Everyone talks about Christina Ricci, and she is great, but to my mind Lisa Kudrow is better. Plus Ivan Sergei at peak hot.

Aquinas1220 said...

If "Prince of Tides" and "Mirror Has Two Faces" is your only Streisand exposure, then yeah, I can see why she wouldn't be your cup of tea ("Mirror" is cringe inducing). Babs is a singer and works best in that area. The only film of hers I truly enjoy and never get tired watching is "Yentl". Not only is it beautifully shot and acted, Mandy Patinkin is gorgeous in it. It's true Babs doesn't make a very convincing boy, but if you accept the premise it really works well.

David said...

My housemate loves "What's Up, Doc?" It's fun in its 'screwball comedy' way. Ryan's body is....is....well, glorious. I gasp ever so gently every time I see his chest.

Jason, in other Barbra movies: Have you seen "Nuts"? Honestly, that's my favorite of Babs' dramas.

Anonymous said...

Pat Conroy who wrote The Prince of Tides praised Barbra so that says a lot of her as a director.

We cannot forget that a book and a play can work well in their original medium but not translate well into film... in addition, Hollywood is a business, she had to bring the love between the therapist and the patient's brother to the forefront of the movie to sell it.

I think Prince of Tides is a very 90s movie and dull at times, but Nolte gave a good performance as did Kate Nelligan playing the matriarch. Streisand always gets good performances from the people she directs.

There are several videos of her on YouTube working on Prince of Tides and her attention to detail is insane! I think acting and singing come easy to her and people take it for granted really.