Where's Poppa?

(big_bellied_geezer@hotmail.com) wrote on IMDB:

Short of most John Waters films, today's cinema offers little by way of absurd comedy. Generally speaking, cinema has sold out to Nike, Madison avenue and all the rest of the greedy faces behind Hollywood who make sure their "clients" products are wagged in yor face and written into the script.(Think of "What Women Want" or "E.T." for instance) Well, here's a film that takes comedic chances and pays off big! This film is a equal opportunity offender and is in nobody's pocket! Segal and Gordon are in perfect pacing and timing thanks to Carl Riner's direction and no holds barred attack on everything. I can not recommend this film enough to the intelligent viewer who hungers for more than the banal "comedies" of today which are for the most part nothing more than padded 90 minute commercials.

richard winters (rwint) wrote on IMDB:

A beleaguered Segal is a man who must take care of his invalid mother (Gordan). Despite being a handsome, young lawyer he has literally become trapped by this very difficult woman. The majority of the film takes place in a 1940's styled apartment. It's gray , dusty bleakness literally permeate every shot and show just how lodged Segal really is in his mothers world.

He is a normal man that is slowly being sucked into a certain madness. He is becoming mad because the world he lives in and life in general is driving him to it. The wall between what he really wants to do in life and his obligations have become so thick that going mad maybe the only real answer.

In fact madness maybe pretty much what this film is really about. It seems to be saying that there is a certain functioning normality to it and at times even a necessity for it. Everyone in this film seems to convey their own unique form of madness. There's the overzealous war general (hilariously played by Hughes) There's also the henpecked brother/husband Leibman who goes to almost absurd lengths just to make sure everyone is happy. Even innocent, conservative Van Devere opens into the crazy world when explaining her rather unique honeymoon experience. This film dwelves so deeply and consistently into the world of the absurd that at times the senile Gordan really doesn't seem that crazy.   [ show more ]

This is the films genius. It takes everything we have always accepted and turns it inside out. It takes some of life's most depressing things and then makes it into a inspired and creative masterpiece. A trip to the old folks home has never been considered by many to be funny or memorable, yet a trip to Paul Sorvino's old folks home is. In fact it maybe one of the most memorable and funny scenes you'll ever see.

Writer Kane and director Reiner show an amazing awareness of their material, which is really crucial for it's success. Everything is very fluid and consistent in tone. It shows how you can indeed have a offbeat idea, do it in a offbeat way, and still succeed without compromising.

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VivienLeighsnumber1fan (cocoababs1@lycos.com) wrote on IMDB:

The brothers Hocheiser make a solemn promise to their dying father that they will "never put their mother (Ruth Gordon) in a home." But brother Gordon (George Siegel) gets stuck with the old dingbat and she is wrecking his life. His law practice is falling apart, his sex life nonexistent, and he can't even hire a nurse to take care of the wacko. Then, suddenly, a nurse-- the girl of his dreams comes along, but mother has other ideas. This wonderful, creative, hilarious 1970 classic comedy directed by Carl Reiner with its gallows humor could not be made today. We have lost much of our artistic freedom to political correctness, commercial timidity and lack of creative talent. But don't take my word for it, ask Mel Brooks who has remarked that some of his movies could not be made today either. Fortunately we can get the video. The movie does require a somewhat offbeat taste to appreciate. Everything and everyone is in a kind of reality warp, the Hocheiser family, the Central Park muggers, the police, the nurse Louise (Patricia Van Devere). The movie is also comment on life in America in 1970, and on how family members manipulate each other with guilt. Finally, I like the ending the movie was released with, it really does work better artistically.   [ show more ]

9/10

1970 87 minutes Rated:R CC. [ show less ]