A likeable "screwball" comedy farce I remember enjoying on its original release in the early 70's, which still has the power to make me smile a lot and laugh out loud occasionally some near 40 years on.
Probably the best of Streisand's "kooky" comedy films (over "The Owl and The Pussycat" & "For Pete's Sake"), "What's Up Doc" benefits from director Peter Bogdanovich's energetic direction which stays faithful to, yet winningly updates a genre which probably found its apogee in late 30's early 40's Hollywood - pick any one from "Bringing Up Baby", "Ball Of Fire", "The Front Page" "Nothing Sacred" and "Arsenic & Old Lace". This would explain of course Ryan O'Neal's impersonation of the great Cary Grant which he carries off reasonably well, if of course lacking the great man's better diction, timing and even looks, and yes, I did catch and enjoy his little "Judy Judy Judy" genuflection near the end.
Streisand is as good as she gets, so far as I'm concerned - she'll never be a favourite of mine but here she reins in her overwrought diva-like propensities to appear almost genuinely charming and even attractive as the motormouth, hapless Judy with whom O'Neal's gormless Howard character gets inextricably involved.
The rest of the cast give vigorous support with lots of well-turned cameos, but special kudos to Kenneth Mars reprising his Teutonic bore to good effect from "The Producers", Liam Dunn as a judge on the verge of a nervous breakdown, Phil Spector lookalike Austin Pendleton as the rich philanthropist for whose $20000 grant O'Neal and Mars are vying and of course the great Madeleine Khan in her first big part which no doubt brought her comedic talents to the attention of a certain Mr Brooks.
There are lots of good gags, both verbal and sight, as you'd expect from the pen of Buck Henry. To be fair, many of them are also well past their sell-by date but you'll groan with a smile. The big set-pieces work well, including the opening banquet scene with Streisand in great wisecracking form and of course the Keystone Cops style car chase up and down San Francisco, neatly riffing off "Bullitt" from only four years earlier. The ending is very funny too with O'Neal in on the joke parodying his own "Love Story" success with a commendably straight face.
Best gags - well there are several but I'll settle for the judge's "That's unbelievable" remark to Khan in the courtroom finale. Oh and by the way, several cars were injured during the making of this film!
Probably the best of Streisand's "kooky" comedy films (over "The Owl and The Pussycat" & "For Pete's Sake"), "What's Up Doc" benefits from director Peter Bogdanovich's energetic direction which stays faithful to, yet winningly updates a genre which probably found its apogee in late 30's early 40's Hollywood - pick any one from "Bringing Up Baby", "Ball Of Fire", "The Front Page" "Nothing Sacred" and "Arsenic & Old Lace". This would explain of course Ryan O'Neal's impersonation of the great Cary Grant which he carries off reasonably well, if of course lacking the great man's better diction, timing and even looks, and yes, I did catch and enjoy his little "Judy Judy Judy" genuflection near the end.
Streisand is as good as she gets, so far as I'm concerned - she'll never be a favourite of mine but here she reins in her overwrought diva-like propensities to appear almost genuinely charming and even attractive as the motormouth, hapless Judy with whom O'Neal's gormless Howard character gets inextricably involved.
The rest of the cast give vigorous support with lots of well-turned cameos, but special kudos to Kenneth Mars reprising his Teutonic bore to good effect from "The Producers", Liam Dunn as a judge on the verge of a nervous breakdown, Phil Spector lookalike Austin Pendleton as the rich philanthropist for whose $20000 grant O'Neal and Mars are vying and of course the great Madeleine Khan in her first big part which no doubt brought her comedic talents to the attention of a certain Mr Brooks.
There are lots of good gags, both verbal and sight, as you'd expect from the pen of Buck Henry. To be fair, many of them are also well past their sell-by date but you'll groan with a smile. The big set-pieces work well, including the opening banquet scene with Streisand in great wisecracking form and of course the Keystone Cops style car chase up and down San Francisco, neatly riffing off "Bullitt" from only four years earlier. The ending is very funny too with O'Neal in on the joke parodying his own "Love Story" success with a commendably straight face.
Best gags - well there are several but I'll settle for the judge's "That's unbelievable" remark to Khan in the courtroom finale. Oh and by the way, several cars were injured during the making of this film!