What's Up, Doc?

G

Released Mar 10, 1972

1h 34m

Comedy

List

89%

45 Reviews

Tomatometer

88%

10,000+ Ratings

Audience Score

Two researchers have come to San Francisco to compete for a research grant in music. The man seems a bit distracted, and that was before he met a strange woman who has devoted her life to confusing and embarrassing him. At the same time a woman has her jewels stolen and a government whistle blower arrives with his stolen top secret papers.

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Critics Consensus

Barbra Streisand was never more likable than in this energetic, often hilarious screwball farce from director Peter Bogdanovich.

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ed m

A couple of laughs, but overall pretty cornball.

Rated 2 out of 5 stars

04/19/24

Full Review

Robert L

The funniest movie of all time. I first saw What's Up Doc in college in 1972, and promptly introduced it to my family. We can all quote almost every line verbatim - the film has that kind of staying power. Now that my nieces and nephews have children, we look forward to sharing with the rest of the family. Madeline Kahn steals the show (not easy to do when you're up against Barbra and Ryan) in her big screen debut. Except for the cars and the dated hotel decor, the dialogue is as fresh and witty as ever. You will not regret the time you spend with this comic masterpiece.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

03/17/24

Full Review

Audience Member

It takes over an hour for this plot to actually start so Neal and Streisand are the only ones keeping this from being a total waste After all this is a throwback to classic screwball comedy in the likes of Charlie Chaplin, Three Stooges, and Buster Keaton It goes from one silly antic to the next once the chase is in in the San Francisco streets Bogdonavich embraces this goofiness from a bygone era of filmmaking with amazing leads and laughter-filled shenanigans Of course somehow by the end they have to make a connection to the catch phrase and it’s a nice touch I’ll admit The late director made something like this work pretty well and in the process delivering bits of hilarity with two actors that match so well

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

03/11/24

Full Review

David C

What's Up Doc is a lovely farce. The highlight of the film is Madeline Kahn as Eunice Burns.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

03/11/24

Full Review

Audience Member

Greatest slapstick comedy of all time

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

11/11/23

Full Review

Test T

I didn't really know what to expect from this one from 1972. I watched it on DVD, and I'm really glad I did. It's a really well written, fast paced comedy. Barbara Streisand is fabulous, as a mischievous young woman named Judy who, styled on the cartoon character Bugs Bunny, has a way of creating mayhem wherever she goes. On her mission to seduce Dr Bannister away from his fiance, she meets a whole string of interesting and well acted characters in a series of mad cap scenarios. The chase scene around the San Francisco streets is a joy to watch, and probably one of the best ever made. I really enjoyed this movie and would reccomend it to everyone.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

10/13/23

Full Review

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Peter Bogdanovich

Director

Barbra Streisand

Judy Maxwell

Ryan O'Neal

Howard Bannister

Madeline Kahn

Eunice Burns

Kenneth Mars

Hugh Simon

Austin Pendleton

Frederick Larrabee

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Richard Brody

New Yorker

In Bogdanovich's analytical twist on the genre, even joyous liberation leaves a huge mess.

May 26, 2020

Full Review

James Berardinelli

ReelViews

The film builds on itself, gaining speed as it careens out-of-control toward its conclusion. Only a director in complete control can fashion something so effortlessly chaotic.

Rated: 3.5/4

Oct 2, 2018

Full Review

Jay Cocks

TIME Magazine

The result is a comedy made by a man who has seen a lot of movies, knows all the mechanics, and has absolutely no sense of humor.

Feb 10, 2014

Full Review

Dennis Harvey

48 Hills

Possibly Streisand's most ingratiating star turn in Peter Bogdanovich’s first-rate 1972 ode to screwball comedies.

Jun 13, 2023

Full Review

Mike Massie

Gone With The Twins

It's a unique, noble effort to recreate the comedy stylings of a bygone era, but it's never completely convincing.

Rated: 5/10

Jun 28, 2021

Full Review

David Nusair

Reel Film Reviews

...a briskly-paced and often hilarious endeavor...

Rated: 3/4

Dec 16, 2020

Full Review

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Synopsis

Two researchers have come to San Francisco to compete for a research grant in music. The man seems a bit distracted, and that was before he met a strange woman who has devoted her life to confusing and embarrassing him. At the same time a woman has her jewels stolen and a government whistle blower arrives with his stolen top secret papers.

Director: Peter Bogdanovich
Screenwriter: Buck Henry, David Newman, Robert Benton
Distributor: Warner Bros. Pictures
Production Co: Saticoy Productions
Rating: G
Genre: Comedy
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Mar 10, 1972, Wide
Release Date (Streaming): Sep 11, 2015
Runtime: 1h 34m

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