This is the type of film that makes misogynists hate the leading male characters more than the woman. Richard Benjamin had me laughing at him hysterically because everything that came out of his mouth was just ridiculously absurd, and like others who have written here, I have met people exactly like him. As for the character Frank Langella plays, he's an overconfident smug egotist, certainly not my ideal of the type of person to have in a chair with just because of relationship you are in has tons of issues. Snodgrass too is quite flawed, unable to stand up to her two children who totally abuse her verbally, and I don't think anyone would blame her for totally walking out on this poor excuse for a family.
As written by Frank and Eleanor Perry, this is an honest look at the human condition where everybody is greatly flawed and often annoying to the point where you just want to go live in solitary confinement and never leave. A hysterically funny scene with the all too honest babysitter had me both laughing and crying because once again, I've been counted people like this, the types that you can't escape from unless you run faster than them. In short, this is a film about human neediness, and not in a way to where it's mutual.
Carrie Snodgress, deservedly nominated for an Oscar for performance, plays a real person, so troubled and unsure of how to get out of her rut. Benjamin is a verbal bully, and Langella demanding and pretentious, and yet they were two of the most entertaining idiots to watch continuously make fools of themselves. I bet back when this was released, the biggest insult anyone could ever say to someone was that they reminded them of either the Benjamin or Langella character from this film. I usually don't like films where I don't like any of the characters, but I had such fun watching them here that I have to say in spite of everything, this is a very good movie and a must see, probably because it's so ridiculously true to life, even 50 years later.
As written by Frank and Eleanor Perry, this is an honest look at the human condition where everybody is greatly flawed and often annoying to the point where you just want to go live in solitary confinement and never leave. A hysterically funny scene with the all too honest babysitter had me both laughing and crying because once again, I've been counted people like this, the types that you can't escape from unless you run faster than them. In short, this is a film about human neediness, and not in a way to where it's mutual.
Carrie Snodgress, deservedly nominated for an Oscar for performance, plays a real person, so troubled and unsure of how to get out of her rut. Benjamin is a verbal bully, and Langella demanding and pretentious, and yet they were two of the most entertaining idiots to watch continuously make fools of themselves. I bet back when this was released, the biggest insult anyone could ever say to someone was that they reminded them of either the Benjamin or Langella character from this film. I usually don't like films where I don't like any of the characters, but I had such fun watching them here that I have to say in spite of everything, this is a very good movie and a must see, probably because it's so ridiculously true to life, even 50 years later.