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      Portnoy's Complaint

      R 1972 1 hr. 41 min. Drama List
      Reviews 12% Fewer than 50 Ratings Audience Score Philip Roth's neurotic Portnoy (Richard Benjamin) blames his mother for the hang-ups he acquired growing up in New Jersey. Read More Read Less Watch on Fandango at Home Premiered Jan 01 Buy Now

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      Audience Reviews

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      David K What a terrible movie. Everything is off in it. Watched it as part of TCM's Special Theme: The Jewish Experience. What a terrible way to end a mediocre theme (I'm Jewish, so I can say this). Rated 1 out of 5 stars 03/28/23 Full Review Dave S There is a good reason why writer and producer Ernest Lehmen only directed one film and that reason is Portnoy's Complaint. Philip Roth's fantastic novel about sexual obsession and Jewish angst is turned into an unwatchable mess, proving that some things are best left on the written page. While the cast is actually pretty decent (Richard Benjamin, Lee Grant, Karen Black, Jill Clayburgh), they aren't able to do much of anything with Lehmen's labored script, which manages to turn a perversely joyous book into a surprisingly sedate movie, filled with annoying characters who seem to do nothing more than scream at each other or mope in their own misfortune. It sounds trite, but just read the book. Rated 1 out of 5 stars 10/16/23 Full Review Russ G One word: Unwatchable. OK, two; add: "Gross." I bailed on this about 15 minutes in as it wasn't funny or entertaining in any way. No wonder the director had problems casting the lead; even Woody Allen didn't want it. They had to scrape the bottom of the barrel and go with Richard Benjamin. Rated 0.5 out of 5 stars 02/04/23 Full Review Read all reviews Post a rating

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      Legendary Screenwriter Ernest Lehman Passes Away

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      Portnoy's Complaint

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      Critics Reviews

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      Roger Ebert Chicago Sun-Times The other thing lacking in the movie is the book's sense of mischievous fun and the kind of joy contained in Roth's liberating message. Rated: 2/4 Oct 23, 2004 Full Review John Hofsess Maclean's Magazine It is no accomplishment that the film has been made with restraint and good taste. The Philip Roth novel was an attack on restraint and good taste. May 13, 2020 Full Review Dennis Schwartz Dennis Schwartz Movie Reviews Ineptly directed. Rated: C- Apr 8, 2012 Full Review Read all reviews

      Movie Info

      Synopsis Philip Roth's neurotic Portnoy (Richard Benjamin) blames his mother for the hang-ups he acquired growing up in New Jersey.
      Director
      Ernest Lehman
      Screenwriter
      Ernest Lehman
      Rating
      R
      Genre
      Drama
      Original Language
      English
      Release Date (Streaming)
      Jan 1, 2009
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