The Goodbye Girl (2004)

More than a quarter-century after Herbert Ross directed Richard Dreyfuss to an Oscar and made an indelible cinematic impression out of Neil Simon's The Goodbye Girl, a 2004 television remake starring Jeff Daniels and Patricia Heaton proved winning and funny in its own way. Daniels plays Elliot, an actor who subleases a New York City apartment already occupied by a dancer and single mom, Paula (Heaton), and her daughter (Hallie Kate Eisenberg). Focused on his stagecraft, Elliot is irked about sharing housing with strangers, and while Paula feels the same (to great comic effect), both come to lean on and finally love one another over time. The underrated Daniels is very good here, nuanced and thoughtful, and his work performing (as Elliot) in a stage production of Richard III is quite entertaining. Heaton is equally strong and frequently stirring; anyone with doubts about this film's casting will quickly forget them. --Tom Keogh Amazon.com

Patricia Heaton is Awesome!!!

This is a fantastic remake of Neil Simon's "The Goodbye Girl"!!! Patricia Heaton and Jeff Daniels are spectacular! Great flick...just keep the tissue box close by as it's a real tear-jerker! December 1, 2008

The Goodbye Girl

I first saw this play at the movie theatre with Richard Dryfus and Marsha Mason. I was really too young to understand it at the time. I do know that I did not need to see it again. The story was not difficult to follow and it was a cute story about a woman scorned by failed relationships with earlier roommate (male actors) and she wanted to change her life for the better.

The remake of the movie was really funny. The script stayed very much on cue with the Richard Dryfus movie. But, I really laughed myself to death on this one. The setting and fashion was more up to date. But I felt that Jeff Daniel played a little less intense a personality than Richard Dryfus. Richard Dryfuss played a little too intense a character. He seemed to be rather rude and self centered, whereas Daniels was more human in my opinion. Especially when the play was being performed. When you see his face in the dressing room after his performance on its opening night! I am laughing as I am writing this, I can still see his expression!

Perhaps being older has made the difference in my viewpoint, but I am so happy to have this movie in my video collections. I am not disappointed, I think it is funny.

Bobbi February 18, 2008

good

I bought this for my wife. She loves the original movie. she said this one not as good, but the dialog was almost word for word.
she enjoyed.
February 15, 2008

WHY ?????????

Except for a very few changes the script for this re-make his identical to the 1978 one which leaves your wondering why make it at all.
The actors do go through their lines at a much quicker pace than on the original, my guess is they did it to fit a 110 minute movie into 90 minutes. I am more of a fan of Heaton/Daniels than Mason/Dreyfuss but the fact is the latter ones were much, much better. Unlike Mason's character which evolved so much in the original, Heaton's character remains exactly the same throught this new version which makes it hard to root for her. Personally I identify her so much with ELR's Deborah that when she started kissing Daniels it felt like she was being unfaithful to Raymond.
My suggestion would have been for them to film Heaton and Daniels while they seat on a couch and watch the original Goodbye Girl, it sure would have been more entertaining than what they came up with. September 4, 2007

Great Movie!

Tis movie is so much better than the 1970's version with Dreyfuss and Mason. Heaton and Daniels are a much better matching couple. These people are so fitting and right for these roles of a struggling and a struggling house wife/ dancer! Thank you Richard Benjamin for a great movie and great entertaiment. July 23, 2006

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