Quartile rating: 7/10 · 1 rating
In this film based on a Neil Simon play, newlyweds Corie, a free spirit, and Paul Bratter, an uptight lawyer, share a sixth-floor apartment in Greenwich Village. Soon after their marriage, Corie tries to find a companion for mother, Ethel, who is now alone, and sets up Ethel with neighbor Victor. Inappropriate behavior on a double date causes conflict, and the young couple considers divorce.
Barefoot in the Park is a charming Neil Simon adaptation carried largely by the sparkling chemistry between Jane Fonda and Robert Redford. The acting is genuinely exceptional — both leads are magnetic, and Mildred Natwick earned an Oscar nomination for her delightful turn as the mother. The plot is light and stage-bound, a standard romantic comedy of clashing personalities with little dramatic weight. Cinematography is functional at best, reflecting its theatrical origins with little cinematic ambition. Novelty is limited — it is a faithful, crowd-pleasing adaptation of a Broadway hit following well-worn romantic comedy conventions. The ending resolves things warmly but predictably, consistent with the genre.