Barefoot In the Park

      Robert Redford plays Paul Bratter, a conservative young lawyer who's just married to vivacious, life-loving Corrie, played to saucy perfection by a young Jane Fonda.  Their over-the-top passion , on top of moving into their first New York apartment and the many predicaments that follow, set the stage for a hilarious bit of 60's cinema.

      "Barefoot In the Park" is one of the happiest, frothiest comedies of all time, and one of my personal favorites.  There are so many things I love about "Barefoot In the Park".  First and foremost, it's still one of the funniest movies I have ever seen.  Period.  This is light years beyond what passes as comedies today. The jokes and zippy one-liners haven't aged one bit- "Barefoot In the Park" is still as fresh and inventive today as it was way back in 1967.  This is a truly hysterical movie.  It also remains one of the best movies made from a Neil Simon play, tied only with "The Odd Couple" for sheer laughs.

     Jane Fonda is pure comic gold- she is hilariously out of control and a perfect match for Robert Redford's stuffiness.  Fonda is usually known for her dramatic roles, but I'll take her in"Barefoot" anyday.  She is simply divine.  Robert Redford also displays a hardly-seen comedic side- after watching, one wonders why he didn't delve more into comedies.  Regardless, the two have incredible chemistry- this is one of the main reasons why this movie works so well.  Redford and Fonda are a perfect cinematic pair. Even the supporting characters shine in "Barefoot In the Park"- especially Charles Boyer and the fabulous Mildred Natwick, my personal favorite.  She is nothing short of superb as Fonda's mother.

     Take Neil Simon's snappy dialogue, brilliant performances, and the wonderful backdrop of New York City, circa 1967, and you have a movie as close to perfection as you're likely to get.  Simply everything about this movie works.  It's impossible not to smile while watching this movie.  Light and airy, "Barefoot In the Park" is a true delight.  I've seen this movie hundreds of times, and it never fails to entertain and I still laugh hysterically.  This is a great way to pass a rainy afternoon, snuggled up on the sofa.  That's how I first discovered this gem, and it's still my happy place.  I LOVE THIS MOVIE.