“Barefoot in the Park” is a 1967 film based on the Neil Simon play of the same name. Robert Redford stars as Paul Bratter, a young lawyer who is waiting for his big break in the firm. He has just married Corrie (Jane Fonda) a vivacious girl with a live-life-to-the-fullest outlook. She compliments his solidarity and he brings her down to earth, or tries to.
After spending six days at the Plaza Hotel following their marriage, they emerge into real life and move into an apartment together. Corrie picked it out without Paul’s approval – he’s never seen it at all – and it’s on the top floor of a somewhat dilapidated apartment building. She loves it and just knows they’ll be able to make it a wonderful home, but when he sees it, after nearly keeling over from a heart attack after climbing all the stairs, his eye immediately goes to all the things that are wrong with it. It’s tiny, there’s a hole in the skylight, and the heater doesn’t work. The bedroom is just barely big enough to hold a single bed, but Corrie is so enthusiastic, he agrees to give it a go.
When Corrie’s mother shows up for a visit several days earlier than agreed upon, Corrie decides that her mother really needs a man in her life so she won’t be so involved in Corrie’s affairs. The man who lives in the attic, Mr. Velasco, seems just the thing. Full of vim and vigor, and a whole lot of flirt, he’s just the ticket to do some wooing. But the blind date Corrie arranges takes a wrong turn, and she ends up asking Paul for a divorce.
This movie really has some funny moments, but to be honest, I didn’t really feel any chemistry at all between Robert Redford and Jane Fonda. They’re newlyweds and they’re supposed to be head over heels in love, but I felt I was watching two actors saying lines and kissing when the script says they should. I might enjoy the story better on stage, as it was originally written to be performed. All that said, this is a good Mommy movie to be watched with a tub of popcorn and a root beer. Or a Sprite – you choose.
This film was not rated.
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