Central Park South is the setting of this film version of the Neil Simon hit Broadway play that gets a faithful film adaption that is both character driven and a comedy of the lack of American manners. A business man reveals to his wife on their 30th anniversary that he's been having an affair; A movie star meets an old girlfriend for chat and a hopeful rendezvous; A frustrated father of the bride deals with his nervous daughter. The women all face their situations with typical Neil Simon humor, a bit of bitterness. an overabundance of vodka stingers and brittle cynicism mixed with love and embarrassment.
Walter Matthau plays all three men with different looks-one dark haired with a mustache, one a California dyed blonde and one salt and peppered with an expensive tux. The women were three of the most popular stage and screen actresses of the time and all superb if at least one a bit annoying in her clinging manner. That honor goes to Maureen Stapleton, too loving, a bit cloying and way too chatty. Dealing with the news that her 30 year marriage may be on the rocks (plus the presence of anchovies in her room service order that she particularly requested she not get. Louise Sorel is the secretary who pops by with paperwork which leads to the revelation of the six month fling he's been trying to end. This segment ends with a bittersweet conclusion and while Stapleton's character could be a bit too much, I felt sorry for her in many different ways.
Broadway musical star Barbara Harris is the vodka stinger guzzling former girlfriend of movie lothario Matthau's, a station wagon wife and mother who is impressed by the name- dropping Matthau who is spoofing Hollywood pretty boys trying to remain glamorous past their prime. This is the least interesting of the three segments because the motivations are simply one dimensional and the characters aren't fully drawn out.
This leaves the best for last, a wedding segment with Matthau sounding very much like Archie Bunker and Lee Grant as the frustrated wife and mother. Grant is excellent, giving the best of the female performances even though it was Stapleton who ended up with a Golden Globe nomination.
It's easy to see why Matthau was so popular at this time and remained a leading man in spite of looking like a character performer. In spite of his gruffness, there is something really likable about him. He reminds me of the crazy uncle who amuses the kiddies while annoying the adults. Small moments work better here than some of the bigger moments. Some familiar faces add on to the character driven plays including familiar soap faces Jordan Charney and Augusta Dabney.
Walter Matthau plays all three men with different looks-one dark haired with a mustache, one a California dyed blonde and one salt and peppered with an expensive tux. The women were three of the most popular stage and screen actresses of the time and all superb if at least one a bit annoying in her clinging manner. That honor goes to Maureen Stapleton, too loving, a bit cloying and way too chatty. Dealing with the news that her 30 year marriage may be on the rocks (plus the presence of anchovies in her room service order that she particularly requested she not get. Louise Sorel is the secretary who pops by with paperwork which leads to the revelation of the six month fling he's been trying to end. This segment ends with a bittersweet conclusion and while Stapleton's character could be a bit too much, I felt sorry for her in many different ways.
Broadway musical star Barbara Harris is the vodka stinger guzzling former girlfriend of movie lothario Matthau's, a station wagon wife and mother who is impressed by the name- dropping Matthau who is spoofing Hollywood pretty boys trying to remain glamorous past their prime. This is the least interesting of the three segments because the motivations are simply one dimensional and the characters aren't fully drawn out.
This leaves the best for last, a wedding segment with Matthau sounding very much like Archie Bunker and Lee Grant as the frustrated wife and mother. Grant is excellent, giving the best of the female performances even though it was Stapleton who ended up with a Golden Globe nomination.
It's easy to see why Matthau was so popular at this time and remained a leading man in spite of looking like a character performer. In spite of his gruffness, there is something really likable about him. He reminds me of the crazy uncle who amuses the kiddies while annoying the adults. Small moments work better here than some of the bigger moments. Some familiar faces add on to the character driven plays including familiar soap faces Jordan Charney and Augusta Dabney.