Solemplex To me, this movie is perfection.

Actuakers One of my all time favorites.

FirstWitch A movie that not only functions as a solid scarefest but a razor-sharp satire.

Paynbob It’s fine. It's literally the definition of a fine movie. You’ve seen it before, you know every beat and outcome before the characters even do. Only question is how much escapism you’re looking for.

Lee Eisenberg By 1977, Richard Dreyfuss was a well established actor, having appeared in "American Graffiti", "The Apprenticeship of Duddy Kravitz" and "Jaws". That year he appeared in "Close Encounters of the Third Kind" and "The Goodbye Girl", winning an Academy Award for Best Actor for the latter.Probably the most notable role that year was John Travolta's turn as a working-class youth who dances to disco music in "Saturday Night Fever", one of the most iconic movies of the decade. By contrast, barely anyone remembers "The Goodbye Girl". On the other hand, Richard Dreyfuss is the better actor (more importantly, he frequently addresses political issues, while John Travolta is now more known for Scientology than for his movie roles). Are Academy Award nominations meant to address roles or individuals? Whatever the case, this movie - the first that Neil Simon wrote directly for the screen - is worth seeing. I actually liked Marsha Mason's role more than Richard Dreyfuss's. I'd call her one of the most underrated actresses. Overall, it's an OK movie, not a masterpiece.

painterjc When former dancer Paula McFadden comes home from a shopping spree with her ten year old daughter Lucy, she finds a Dear Jane letter from her boyfriend Tony. They both had been looking forward to accompanying Tony to California while he films a movie. It seems he's taken a film role in Italy instead and left her high and dry. This is the beginning of her problems. Later that night, she and Lucy are awakened by someone at the door. She opens it to see a soaking wet Elliot Garfield, starving actor. He claims he has sublet the apartment from Tony for three months for $600 and wants to move in that night since he has no place to stay. After telling him to take it up with her fictional police sergeant husband, Paula slams the door in his face and goes back to bed. He calls her a few minutes later from the phone booth down on the corner and tells her he knows she's lying. He convinces her to let him come up and talk over the situation. Paula agrees to let him stay, reasoning that he has a key to the place and she would have to stand guard to keep him from coming in. She begins listing rules for living in the apartment and he responds that he's paying the rent and he will make the rules. Thus begins an unlikely and amusing love story. If you're looking for nude love scenes and bawdy humor, look elsewhere. This is a sweet, funny and smart romantic comedy about two people making the best of a difficult situation and learning to trust again.

DKosty123 It is starting to feel like another planet when you think about the time that has passed since Neil Simon was cranking out comedies like this one in the 1970's. What makes it feel longer is - Marsha Mason is 70 years old this year 2012 Richard Dreyfuss is 65 years old this year.Their daughter who was a newcomer in this movie is 40 years old this year.Dreyfuss won an Oscar for this one and deservedly so. His character is extremely energetic and in a time before it is fashionable has to play a gay King Richard.As for Mason, she is delicious and bitchy all in moments.Neil Simon is 85 this year and his last writing credit was in 2007. In the 1970's Simon was doing scripts like this, The Odd Couple and The Sun Shine Boys.While the Goodbye Girl is not quite as well done as the others, this is still a pretty solid script for it's era. What seems strange is that this one just was shown on The Essentials on TCM. I am not used to having a movie that came out when I grew up being honored in that Saturday night slot. Still, it deserved the recognition.We need films like this one to remind us people and movies are not perfect.

PeaJayKay To watch "The Goodbye Girl" is to watch a special slice of filmography. Never has Richard Dreyfuss commanded his role so effortlessly, relaxed yet so perfect in the part.(Everyone was a jobbing actor at some time.) He really does steal the show, which considering the fine performances by his two female co-stars, is quite a feat! A simple storyline, worked superbly through simple observational craft, weaves a "will they, won't they, should they, can they" masterclass in the art of entertainment. It is a rarity to find a film in which you care, indeed yearn, to follow the cast on their journey. The Genre will not be to everyone's taste(duh!)but the sheer talent shown in front of, and behind of, the Camera is quite delightful.