Rotten Tomatoes
Cancel Movies Tv shows FanStore News Showtimes

I Ought to Be in Pictures

Play trailer Poster for I Ought to Be in Pictures PG 1982 1h 47m Comedy Drama Play Trailer Watchlist
Watchlist Tomatometer Popcornmeter
80% Tomatometer 5 Reviews 43% Popcornmeter 50+ Ratings
Headstrong 19-year-old Libby Tucker (Dinah Manoff) impulsively hitchhikes from her native New York City to Hollywood, Calif., to visit her long-estranged screenwriter father, Herbert (Walter Matthau). An aspiring actress, Libby expects Herbert to atone for running out on her when she was a baby by helping to make her a star. But it soon becomes clear that the underemployed Herbert and his hairdresser girlfriend, Steffy (Ann-Margret), are not in a position to advance anyone else's career.

Critics Reviews

View All (5) Critics Reviews
Bob Thomas Associated Press I Ought to Be in Pictures is a slender but endearing Neil Simon comedy-drama, reflecting the human side of the prolific writer. Oct 22, 2018 Full Review Bruce McCabe Boston Globe Simon's best dialogue revolves around genuine emotion. He's the only screenwriter dealing consistently with familial issues. He's working toward something more lasting than gags. Pictures is a step in that direction. Apr 27, 2018 Full Review Larry Vitacco Philadelphia Gay News I Ought To Be In Pictures ought to be; it's a classy adaptation of a fine play that has the added advantage of a cunningly cloying Marvin Hamlisch music score to help open the tearducts. Rated: 3.5/4 Aug 21, 2020 Full Review Diego Galán El Pais (Spain) The only unique virtue of screenwriter Neil Simon is to modernize characters of the conservative comedies of the 1920s and 1930s. [Full Review in Spanish] Aug 27, 2019 Full Review Chuck O'Leary FulvueDrive-in.com Rated: 3/5 May 7, 2007 Full Review Read all reviews

Audience Reviews

View All (5) audience reviews
Audience Member Not among Simon and Ross' funniest collaborations, 'Pictures' still serves as a moderately amusing romp through the ups and downs of Tinseltown life. A dynamic lead trio and enough quick banter help cover its rather simple tale of father & daughter reunion. Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars 02/01/23 Full Review Audience Member so so drama based on a neil simon play Rated 2.5 out of 5 stars 01/21/23 Full Review Audience Member I was worried this movie would come off as dated, but it really doesn't. The story stands the test of time and the movie industry hasn't changed at all it seems. Written by Neil Simon, scenes tend to feel stage-y, but it works okay. I did find it a bit hard to sit through, but for the most part the writing and acting was spot on. Kind of wish the resolution was stronger as it kind of has a "stage" ending which doesn't feel as satisfactory. Rated 3 out of 5 stars 02/16/23 Full Review Audience Member If I had a father in Hollywood who was a screenwriter that I hadn't seen in a couple years & there was maybe a chance he'd hook me up, I might move to Hollywood to.I watched this movie just because it had Walter Matthau in it & he was OK I guess but it wasn't all that great.I found Dinah Manoff's character to be annoying & whiny Rated 2 out of 5 stars 01/23/23 Full Review Audience Member I was worried this movie would come off as dated, but it really doesn't. The story stands the test of time and the movie industry hasn't changed at all it seems. Written by Neil Simon, scenes tend to feel stage-y, but it works okay. I did find it a bit hard to sit through, but for the most part the writing and acting was spot on. Kind of wish the resolution was stronger as it kind of has a "stage" ending which doesn't feel as satisfactory. Rated 3 out of 5 stars 02/27/23 Full Review Read all reviews
I Ought to Be in Pictures

My Rating

Read More Read Less POST RATING WRITE A REVIEW EDIT REVIEW

Cast & Crew

View All Cast and Crew
View All I Ought to Be in Pictures photos

I Ought to Be in Pictures

I Ought to Be in Pictures (1982) I Ought to Be in Pictures (1982) I Ought to Be in Pictures (1982) I Ought to Be in Pictures (1982) I Ought to Be in Pictures (1982) I Ought to Be in Pictures (1982) View more photos

Movie Info

Synopsis Headstrong 19-year-old Libby Tucker (Dinah Manoff) impulsively hitchhikes from her native New York City to Hollywood, Calif., to visit her long-estranged screenwriter father, Herbert (Walter Matthau). An aspiring actress, Libby expects Herbert to atone for running out on her when she was a baby by helping to make her a star. But it soon becomes clear that the underemployed Herbert and his hairdresser girlfriend, Steffy (Ann-Margret), are not in a position to advance anyone else's career.
Director
Herbert Ross
Producer
Herbert Ross, Neil Simon
Rating
PG
Genre
Comedy, Drama
Original Language
English
Release Date (DVD)
Mar 31, 2015
Runtime
1h 47m