I had only a vague recollection of this film, but remembered it being rather unique. I bought the DVD because the film rarely shows up on TV. I was not disappointed. After 35 years, it holds up remarkably well. Sure, many props are out of date (cars, wired telephones),as are some of the cinematic techniques (clumsy zoom shots, montages),but the issues of social class and ethnic stereotypes remain highly relevant.

The disenfranchised and disillusioned hero became a staple of late 1960s movies, and this film actually makes a fine companion piece to "The Graduate." However, the two films diverge widely in resolving their conflicts, making the comparison all the more interesting.

Much of the credit for the success of this film, which is never less than engrossing, goes to the performers. Ali MacGraw is a revelation. In the years since, she has proved to be less than a great actress. Here, she's sensational. She's practically on screen the whole time, giving charm and nuance to the central character she plays. Jack Klugman is entirely convincing as her benevolent and loving father. Richard Benjamin does outstanding work as well. Supporting players are vulgar stereotypes, but serve as shorthand in getting the major themes across.

The film is an expert blend of humor and drama, leaving the audience with much to think about after it's over. Highly recommended.

"Goodbye, Columbus" was one of two Richard Benjamin movies based on Philip Roth novels about Jewish angst (the other was "Portnoy's Complaint"). In "Goodbye, Columbus", Benjamin plays Neil Klugman, a Jewish librarian who strikes up a relationship with Jewish American Princess Brenda Patimkin (Ali MacGraw). When he meets her family, they don't like him because he's not a physician or anything like that.

I don't know for sure what you're supposed to notice most when watching this movie, but what really caught my attention was how undesirable Brenda's family was. Aside from how they dismiss Neil, they just shout at their servants. Brenda's family quite literally consists of worthless human beings. Brenda herself isn't much better. But, some people are really like that. Regardless of whether or not this could be a period piece, it's good to know that there is a movie which shows what certain people are like.

Philip Roth's novella becomes glossy, smart-ass, "Graduate"-styled coming-of-age comedy-drama about a young man in New York, a librarian just out of the Army and living with his aunt and uncle, who courts a beautiful college girl from the country club set. Director Larry Peerce exaggerates the Jewish characters for a punchline, making the girl an insensitive brat and her frightful family an impolite bunch of boors (their nouveau riche surroundings may be plush, but their manners are low-class). A lightweight, rather obvious, somewhat self-conscious affair, watchable without being a moving experience. Admirers tend to remember select elements from the film--the hand-holding montages and rowboat kisses, the pop soundtrack, Ali MacGraw in the swimming pool--and forget the gross, pushy jokes and 'with-it' modern attributes. ** from ****