Say hello to The Goodbye Girl

One movie I won’t get tired watching over and over is The Goodbye Girl, made in 1977. It stars Richard Dreyfuss and Marsha Mason. They play an odd couple forced to live together in an apartment. Richard is Elliot Garfield, a struggling stage actor trying to make it on a bigger stage. Marsha is Paula McFadden, the title character. A single mother raising a spunky 10-year-old girl named Lucy, she keeps on making the same mistakes of having a relationship with desirable but committed or no-good men.

The movie starts when Paula and Lucy get home from shopping and Paula finds a letter from Tony, the man she has a relationship with. The letter states that he has to leave her and Lucy for greener pastures (to make a movie). This makes her the goodbye girl for the second time.

The night after she’s dumped, someone comes knocking at her door. It’s Elliot, all soaked up from the rain outside. Paula is surprised that a total stranger tells her he has the right number of the apartment he is moving in.

It turns out that Tony, Elliot’s friend, has sublet his apartment to him (Elliot), leaving Paula no choice but to have him in her place. The fun starts as the two raise hell with each other because of their sharp-tongued quirkiness.’

Paula may be the rightful owner of the place but he has the lease on her apartment. So they make compromises even though Paula resents his being there. Elliot, on his part, doesn’t have the heart to make them move out.

As the battle of the sexes rages, a funny thing happens. They begin tolerating each other and friendship blooms without a hint that love is on the way. As in other films with similar themes, this one has the knack of being so truthful to the feelings of every character in a romantic comedy.

For one, it is penned by acclaimed playwright Neil Simon, creator of such Broadway hits as Lost In Yonkers and Barefoot In The Park. So expect an array of witty remarks from each character.

Even Paula has her way with words! When Elliot asks her why she is congratulating him the morning after a failed shot at theater stardom, she replies, "I didn’t know what else to say."

When Elliot, on the verge of saying his true feelings for Paula, locks themselves in the bathroom and kisses her, he says, "Your lips may say no-no but there’s yes-yes in your eyes!" Indeed, every scene rings true to us.

One other reason why I like the film more is the fact that David Gates composed the song for the movie. The song is simple, catchy and straight to the point. A film matched with a good tune makes for a winning combination. It helps convey the feelings in the song more.

The movie in itself is a winner. Richard Dreyfuss deserves the Oscar Best Actor for the film. He is so hilarious throughout the film you’ll laugh your heart out, especially when he portrays Richard III in a play. The film also won numerous nominations including Best Picture and Best Actress.

Even though the title is about the girl, guys can well relate to the film, even to Paula. Men can also be ‘the goodbye guy’!

The film made me realize that believing in someone means you have to let them go and prove it. Elliot accepts an offer to star in a big-budgeted movie to go on location far from Paula’s. He tells her he’d be back for sure. Paula lets him go even if she doubts it. After a few days, Elliot calls telling her to come with him. Paula knows that Elliot would come back.

She declines and tells him asking her is enough reason for her to know he is coming back. Then, Elliot requests her to restring his old guitar, his treasured possession on which he played a tune that made Lucy feel well after a stomach upset.

The film ends happily, and in a not-so-conventional manner. Elliot still leaves them for an acting job in a movie, but only for a time being. He definitely is coming back. He’s building a future for the three of them: himself, Paula and her daughter. Paula eventually lets go of her fear because she realizes that is what’s keeping her from fully loving again. Fear has no place in loving someone. They both also see through each other and realize that inner self really matters more than physical judgment.

It’s nice to witness through this film how two people at opposite poles at first eventually build bridges through the act of acceptance and selflessness. This is definitely one of those "watch it with someone you love" movies. Taking chances is what Paula does and she’s goodbye girl no more.