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      Where's Poppa?

      R Released Jan 1, 1970 1h 22m Comedy List
      82% 11 Reviews Tomatometer 69% 1,000+ Ratings Audience Score New York lawyer Gordon (George Segal) has no personal life. Instead, his time outside work is spent looking after his senile, demanding mother (Ruth Gordon), who sabotages his potential relationships. Finally, he meets a woman unafraid of her, nurse Louise Callan (Trish Van Devere). For them to get married, Gordon's mother must go. But when his brother refuses to help, Gordon must find a way to dispose of the old woman, whether that means finding a nursing home or taking more extreme measures. Read More Read Less

      Audience Reviews

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      Mrcholly'smind W May be one of the worst movies I've ever seen Rated 1.5 out of 5 stars 01/15/23 Full Review s r Props for the edge, this one was really out there. But, it was original, legit and hilarious. Saw on TCM. Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars 03/31/23 Full Review kevin w Dark and outrageous, this comedy takes aim at a rare topic with blistering if unsympathetic accuracy, which is that of elderly care. This might be Carl Reiner's best work and certainly the least corny. George Segal plays a mensch New York lawyer who's elderly mom (Ruth Gordon, a smash) has become the bane of his non-existence. Along the way are a plethora of side trips and mild diversions. Not for the faint of funny bone. Rated 4 out of 5 stars 03/30/23 Full Review jon c How much of your mother can you stand your entire adult life? Based on the book by Robert Klane starring George Segal and Ruth Gordon A lawyer named Gordon can't escape his senile mother Hocheiser. All he wants is to have a life of his own and even he knows she can't live forever. She has to be taken care of. Gordon wants to put her in a nursing home and he's getting married. Much of the women he's dated in the past can't put up with her but Gordon finally finds someone who can stand her ground. This nurse Louise played by Trish Van Devere falls for him hard as does he. His mother is a stubborn woman though and it's going to take more than forcing her to stay elsewhere to see reason. Even Gordon's brother won't help him so he's left to fend on his own. It's funny because this man has endless fantasies about his mother leaving to seeing this nurse in a brides dress. The title also points to Mrs. Gordon asking all the time where is Gordon's papa. As you can tell she's so senile she refuses to let go. The movie ended up being more enjoyable than I thought. It's full of good laughs, a jazzy soundtrack, and genuinely realistic characters. There's also this really funny gag involving a gorilla suit. Who can compete with someone's parent when age and memory start to show? Most of us when we reach that peak in our lives refuse to change. Sooner or later all of us need to start having lives aside from our folks. The film is quite a silly time and isn't afraid to make Freudian humor. George Segal is so terrific next to Ruth Gordon. It's a believable relationship between mother and son that gets so ridiculous it's touching. Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars 03/31/23 Full Review Audience Member The nonagenarian (not a word you get to use often, so you always should when you can) Reiner left behind him a matchless comedic legacy across multiple media, from records to TV to film—but even towering legends can make a few clunkers like this poorly paced, badly titled, and sorely outmoded black comedy. Rated 2 out of 5 stars 01/30/23 Full Review Audience Member The best comedy movie ever made! Rated 5 out of 5 stars 02/26/23 Full Review Read all reviews Post a rating

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      Where's Poppa?

      Where's Poppa? (1970) Where's Poppa? (1970) Where's Poppa? (1970) Where's Poppa? (1970) Where's Poppa? (1970) View more photos

      Critics Reviews

      View All (11) Critics Reviews
      Roger Ebert Chicago Sun-Times Go if you want to laugh and like being offended. Rated: 3/4 Oct 23, 2004 Full Review David Nusair Reel Film Reviews ...a promising setup that's employed to progressively erratic (and downright tedious) effect... Rated: 2/4 May 15, 2021 Full Review John Mahoney Los Angeles Free Press Perhaps Carl Reiner, who directed this latrine etching, hoped to show in some black comedy fashion the tragedy of the aged? Jan 13, 2020 Full Review Fernando F. Croce CinePassion Risky Freudian punchlines Oct 21, 2010 Full Review Chuck O'Leary Fantastica Daily Rated: 3/5 Sep 27, 2005 Full Review Emanuel Levy EmanuelLevy.Com Rated: 3/5 Jul 5, 2005 Full Review Read all reviews

      Movie Info

      Synopsis New York lawyer Gordon (George Segal) has no personal life. Instead, his time outside work is spent looking after his senile, demanding mother (Ruth Gordon), who sabotages his potential relationships. Finally, he meets a woman unafraid of her, nurse Louise Callan (Trish Van Devere). For them to get married, Gordon's mother must go. But when his brother refuses to help, Gordon must find a way to dispose of the old woman, whether that means finding a nursing home or taking more extreme measures.
      Director
      Carl Reiner
      Screenwriter
      Robert Klane
      Distributor
      United Artists
      Production Co
      United Artists
      Rating
      R
      Genre
      Comedy
      Original Language
      English
      Release Date (Theaters)
      Jan 1, 1970, Wide
      Release Date (Streaming)
      Apr 4, 2021
      Runtime
      1h 22m
      Sound Mix
      Mono