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What's Up, Doc? is a movie like that. It was the perfect romantic movie comedy for the early 70's, modern and nostalgic and vaguely subversive, with a hot director working at the top of his game and starring the "It" couple of the moment. Before she was STREISAND, Barbra was just an effervescent, unpretentious firecracker with wit and charm to spare... and pipes that could shatter glass. Paired here with Ryan O'Neal, what at first seems like a colossal mismatch quickly proves brilliant. O'Neal is straight-laced and uptight but a closet rebel at heart, which makes him a perfect foil for Bab's insidious ability to rile even the most repressed of hearts. And her lack of conventional beauty only makes her all the more endearing - she displays none of the brittle self-consciousness that would mar her post-70's cinematic performances.

A movie like this isn't about the plot but it does depend on it. Working off an airtight script by Buck Henry and David Newman & Robert Benton, director Peter Bogdanovich expertly mixes daffy dialogue exchanges, minor slapstick and nifty camera moves to create a snappy souffle of mixed-up suitcases that is delightfully delirious. Even Streisand and O'Neal seemed surprised by the twists and turns their characters take, as if they are writing the scenes on the spot. It is this unpredictability, even in the face of a story whose conclusion we can see coming from the first frame, that is What's Up, Doc?'s greatest pleasure. The perfect romantic comedy.

Video: How Does The Disc Look?

At long last available on DVD, Warner Home Video has served up a very nice little transfer for What's Up, Doc? Presented in its original 1.85:1 theatrical aspect ratio and anamorphically encoded, the new source print is in fine shape with a little bit of dirt and grain but overall it is very spiffy. Colors are subdued by today's standards and the film has a very earthy look to it, but hues are cleanly reproduced and fleshtones have a wonderful amber tone to them. Blacks are nice and solid, and overall detail is above average and even darker scenes have a smooth and sharp look. There aren't any noticeable compression problems, but aside from the slightly dated appearance, the only real detriment here is some hard edge halos apparent throughout. But such caveats aside, this is a nicely restored new transfer.

Audio: How Does The Disc Sound?

Somewhat unusual for one of their big catalog releases, Warner has not produced a new Dolby Digital remix. Instead, the film's original mono track is included here, and it is just adequate. It is typical 70's sound design that is very documentary- like, but given all the madcap adventures, there is plenty of added effects that sound natural and well-integrated into the mix. Other than that, there is little to differentiate or rave about with this one. Also included is a French mono dub, along with English, French and Spanish subtitles and English Closed Captions.

Supplements: What Goodies Are There?

Read the back of the box and I'll bet you get pretty excited: new screen-specific audio commentary with Barbra Streisand! And a whole other track with Peter Bogdanovich! Alas, the Streisand commentary is a real cheat. Running less than 15 minutes total - really - you can only access it directly from the menu and it jumps across a few brief bits of scenes and that's it. No offense to Babs fans, but it hardly seems worth the effort. She offers a few mildly interesting comments but mostly boring "insight" such as "I liked working in San Francisco because I like Chinatown." Uh, yeah. Much, much better is Bogdanovich, who talks nonstop and is articulate, intelligent and comprehensive. Both he and Babs make no secret of the fact that she didn't understand the script and the story (she still doesn't) and only wanted to work with him because she loved The Last Picture Show. Bogdanovich gives all the detail we want on the concept of the story, working with the writers, casting Streisand and Ryan O'Neal, his hatred of the schmaltzy Love Story, and just about everything else. Even Babs fans will likely be disappointed by her commentary, but anyone who likes this movie should love Bogdanovich's.

Also included is a cute 8-minute EPK from 1971, Screwball Comedies...Remember Them? Thankfully free of any of the cheesy narration that usually mars promo fluff of this type, it is just amusing behind-the-scenes and movie clips. It ain't deep, but it is vintage fun.

Rounding it out is the film's original theatrical trailer in anamorphic widescreen, plus an awards list.

DVD-ROM Exclusives: What do you get when you pop the disc in your PC?

No ROM extras have been included.

Parting Thoughts