The Main Event (1979)
Hillary Kramer, a successful Perfume magnate, awakes one morning to find that her accountant has robbed her blind and left for South America. Going through all of her remaining assets she finds a boxer, purchased as a tax write-off. She decides to take Kid Natural, Eddie Scanlon, who is much more at home giving driving lessons, into the ring and use him as her key to riches. Eddie thinks this will only get him killed and resists.
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Surprisingly incoherent and boring
How wonderful it is to see this fine actress carry a film and carry it so beautifully.
This is an astonishing documentary that will wring your heart while it bends your mind
I didn’t really have many expectations going into the movie (good or bad), but I actually really enjoyed it. I really liked the characters and the banter between them.
I have to ask how do you get a job like Ryan O'Neal had. Imagine a promising fighter who injures his hand and doesn't box for four years. But he and trainer Whitman Mayo live on the arm and just show up and hang out at a gym for with all their living expenses paid and are on salary. It's all because perfume tycoon Barbra Streisand is using this as one of many tax dodges set up by her manager.But said manager has up and fled the country taking his clients assets except for O'Neal. So now O'Neal has to fight in earnest because Barbra is broke and the gravy train is over. Barbra having nothing else to do becomes O'Neal's manager.Like that old line about 'Ginger Rogers running the Brooklyn Dodgers' from Hollywood Hotel that sums up the comedy in The Main Event which is what Streisand and O'Neal are striving for. She's just a fish out of water. But dare I say it because Barbra hates him, but her character shows a Trump like ability to garner free publicity. And ballyhoo is an integral part of boxing.Taking up where they left off from What's Up Doc, Streisand and O'Neal have a well meshed chemistry. Have to also give big kudos to James Gregory as the Mike Jacobs like fight promoter who knows box office when he sees it.Funniest scenes in the film are at O'Neal's training camp where Barbra is trying very hard to fit into this most masculine of worlds. Not an easy fit by any means.The Main Event is a fun film, the only comedy I can recall about boxing.
The Main Event is a good example of a film that was a very successful blockbuster on initial release making loads of money but that nowadays has almost been completely forgotten. I can only surmise that this is because (a) it's a film very much of its time and (b) despite being popular it probably wasn't actually that good. It's about a successful perfume executive who is left penniless when her business partner disappears with all her money. All she has left is a contract with a has-been boxer who has been living in a giant boxing glove house, living off her cash hand-outs. She makes him get back in the ring to try to earn her back some money but, as is the way, romance follows After Rocky went supernova at the box office in 1976, boxing films were in fashion in the later part of the decade. I guess that partially explains the plot of this one. It may also explain somewhat why the storyline is pretty lame, as the whole boxing plot-line feels strangely negligible like they have basically shoe-horned it in because it was popular at the time. This means that for a sports movie it really is very hard getting involved in the action. It's very difficult to really care about who wins, etc. The main event, as it were, really is the re-uniting of Barbra Streisand and Ryan O'Neal for the first time since What's Up Doc? It has to be said though that this pales pretty significantly in comparison to that film. While it does adopt a similar silly tone, it doesn't have as good a plot, characters or script; while director Howard Zieff is no Peter Bogdanovich. And it may be superficial to say but the fashions and hairstyles of 1979 were fairly atrocious compared to 1972 – compare how Streisand looks in both films if you need proof. Those big perms sure were popular in the disco age for some reason that's for sure! Anyway, the film itself is entertaining enough, despite being pretty underwhelming. Streisand and O'Neal are always good to watch and they try to make the most of what they've got, even if it isn't really a lot. It all winds up with an ending that is quite poorly thought out, although the film has been so silly beforehand that it doesn't really damage it as much as it should.
it is not impressive, interesting or remarkable. it is just a nice comedy who has in lead characters good actors far to give the role of their life. it is funny , with few crazy amusing scenes, almost fake but a not wrong choice for entertainment. so, not great expectations. in same measure, it has, in little measure, the flavor of old situation comedies and this fact saves the construction. a film like a childish game, it is inspired occasion to reflect to serious roles of Streisand and O Neal and to laugh at absurd parts. is it enough ? maybe not. but if you are disappointed, it is only your guilty. because The Main Event can be only funny. not serious, not important, only a childish game.
It's a cute movie but not really a classic, but then neither is "What's Up Doc?" in my book. Both are fun, silly comedies. There is a certain amount of "sexual tension" real or imagined between O'Neil and Streisand. Ryan plays "Kid Natural" Scanlon, a down-on-his-luck washed up small time boxer. Some brief (but not frontal) nudity and horseplay in the locker room scenes and Bab's exercise class. Otherwise, quite tame in spite of some of the situations, including a bedroom encounter. Some mildly salty language and a very annoying performance by Patti D'Arbanville as Ryan's crass and tough girlfriend with "smoker's cough" are my reasons for marking down this film to an "8". Is it realistic? No. A perfume company would not own a boxer's contract, even as a tax shelter. However, Ryan's boxing scenes have a look of authenticity to them and he doesn't appear to be using a stunt double. Of course nobody would "throw in the towel" on purpose during a boxing match to disqualify the winner for such a silly reason as "true love". That's what makes this both a comedy and a fantasy. Barbra is in the best shape of her life and looks absolutely fantastic. It's funny enough that you don't have to be a fan of hers to enjoy it, but it helps if you like professional boxing or wrestling. The only notable song is the title track sung by (who else?) Barbra; so it's not a musical. This little movie made tons of money at the box office and in rentals. Apparently, it has been forgotten about, over the years.