What's Up, Doc? (1972)

Purely Joyful Movie!

One of my all time favorites.

This is a small, humorous movie in some ways, but it has a huge heart. What a nice experience.

Let me be very fair here, this is not the best movie in my opinion. But, this movie is fun, it has purpose and is very enjoyable to watch.

This was a very interesting movie because of what it was able to accomplish. Anyone who watches the first 30 seconds and has a functioning brain would be able to see exactly what the plot will be for the rest of the movie. It is so very predictable in the story that will happen. Nevertheless, that did not detract from it. Unlike many modern comedies that make jokes and almost wait for the audience to laugh or respond before moving on, this comedy made most of its jokes with its tongue in its cheek. They were subtle and almost under the breath of the characters, resulting in a hilarious movie. The best way to describe it would be a fantastic stand-up routine that was shooting jokes in rapid succession. Yes, the basic film elements were there, but this movie was so incredibly entertaining. What's Up Doc was able to capture the essence of something that so many comedies attempt to do now, but in an elevated manner. It didn't have to resort of fowl language or sexual content to get a laugh, but the wit of the writing and the strength of the acting. Hopefully one day we will be able to get another comedy on this level instead of the quiche junk that is made now.In conclusion, it was brilliant and I highly recommend it for anyone who enjoys quick witted and dry humor.

... and this is definitely one of those films. The movie opens with a fantastic rendition of Cole Porter's "You're the Top" sung by Barbra Streisand and then proceeds to tell the story of four identical plaid overnight bags that get mixed up: one bag contains rocks belonging to professor Ryan O'Neal (the "doc" of the title), one bag contains Barbra Streisand's clothes and underwear, one bag contains top secret documents and one bag contains a wealthy woman's jewels. Instrumental versions of various Cole Porter songs are heard throughout the movie.Barbra looks beautiful and sings "As Time Goes By" about halfway through the movie. At one point she's hanging from a hotel ledge wearing only a towel! Madeline Kahn is hilarious as Ryan's O'Neal's fiancé. The movie seems to be an homage to screwball comedies from the 1930s and the actors do a good job with the fast-paced dialogue.The car chase through San Francisco near the end of the movie is a lot of fun . There's a pane of glass that some men are trying to cross the street with that you just know is going to get broken as all the cars go by, but what actually causes it to break was quite unexpected.

Okay ... first things first ... buy it and watch it whenever you are desperate for a laugh! This is a fast paced movie that keeps you laughing all the way through. The chemistry between Streisand and O'Neal is totally unique as no matter what Ryan O'Neal's character does, he can not lose Barbra ... the woman just keeps popping up and causing mayhem where ever she goes.The story centers around a few pieces of popular luggage, approximately the size of a doctor's bag, that becomes an object in a keep-away game, and is owned by three or four different people ... one containing rocks, one containing jewels, one containing secret papers ... you get the idea. Throw in some spies, a couple of jewel thieves, a guy trying to get financial support for his rock studies, a frantic fiancée, and the biggest jinx in history ... and you have a mad house of fiascoes and misadventures with one heck of a surprise ending! The acting is top notch ... Streisand and O'Neal are in top form ... and Madeline Kahn was the perfect choice to play the matronly fiancée! This movie is no great Oscar Winner ... but it is Family Fun, Fun, Fun, at its best!

This is without a doubt one of my top 5 all-time comedies. I see that most of the reviewers share my love of this movie. All I can say about the haters is "Go buy a sense a humor". While Streisand and O'Neill give great performances, it is the non-stop gags and funny nuances that make this movie a cut above others. As many people have stated also, the cast is just terrific with Kenneth Mars, Austin Pendleton, Liam Dunn and the incomparable Madelyn Kahn taking their turns making this one of the best movies of all time! Of course, the fact that this is Madelyn Kahn's first movie makes it noteworthy in itself. I love all movies, and while the old screwball comedies of the 30's & 40's are very good, I can tell you that I think this surpasses them all. Don't try to read anything into this movie. There are no moralistic messages or themes, just lots of laughs and fun. Just enjoy the movie.