The Owl and the Pussycat (1970)

Odd couples -- whether of the same or different sexes -- have been a Hollywood staple for decades. The Owl and the Pussycat, Barbra Streisand's first foray into non-musical territory, is in that tradition, and while it is not a film for the ages, it is still a very professional, well-made, and enjoyable film. Somewhat notorious at the time for its very salty language (much of which is edited in some versions) and for the attention-grabbing lingerie that Streisand wears, it feels a bit dated now. However, Buck Henry's screenplay from Bill Manhoff's play has enough zingers and pulls the right strings to make up for this. Most importantly, Streisand and George Segal have a very definite chemistry; as they are in practically every frame of the film, this is crucial. As the more outrageous character, Streisand tends to steal focus, but Segal is powerful enough -- even within the limits of his character's wimpiness -- to keep up with her. His slow burns are especially well done. Streisand has several highlights, such as the ad for her porn flick, "Cycle Sluts," and a sequence in which she rebuffs some men in a car. If the parts are not deep enough to allow for great acting, they do allow the performers to exhibit splendid technique. Ultimately, Owl and the Pussycat is an old fashioned opposites-attract romantic comedy with some very 1960s and '70s trappings, nothing a viewer hasn't seen many times before, but fun to see again. ~ Craig Butler, All Movie Guide