Where’s Poppa? (1970)

Directed by Carl Reiner. Starring George Segal, Trish Van Devere, Ruth Gordon, Ron Leibman, Rae Allen, Barnard Hughes, Vincent Gardenia, Paul Sorvino, Rob Reiner. [R]

Black comedy in exceedingly poor taste (the best kind of taste) where harried Segal is at his wits’ end taking care of his rude, senile and vulgar mother (Gordon), who scares away any woman he’s interested in. Writer Robert Klane’s material is aimless outrage, which would be fine if it was both funny and shocking, but alas… The slices of quirky absurdism and mockery of social convention work best, but this is thin gruel, given too little payoff potential, energy and style by director Reiner and his shabby visual palette. Story (and jokes) peter out in such a rushed fashion at the end, it feels like everyone involved just wanted to call it a day before losing the light. Theatrical version edited out the original incest-gag ending; later restored in some prints prepared for home video and cable. One of the park muggers is played by Garrett Morris; Sorvino’s first film.

43/100