As great a playwright as he is, Neil Simon occasionally goes a bit "overboard." In the movie "Plaza Suite," there wasn't one single likable character among all three stories, and the same was true of the original "The Out-of-Towners" - despite leads you wouldn't think capable of projecting this. And if it were ever possible to become tired of the great Walter Matthau's presence on screen, "Plaza Suite" confirmed it. In the original of this story, Marsha Mason was, in my opinion, thoroughly annoying - and I never cared for her work in anything of hers I ever saw. Patricia Heaton is 180-degrees opposite, and this movie proves it. Her Paula was someone you'd want to be with, stay with, come home to. Marsha Mason was one which you could visualize anybody chomping at the proverbial "bit" to extricate oneself. Further, Jeff Daniels is far more likable than Richard Dryfess as Elliot. Patricia Heaton rates along with Diane Keaton, Ann Heche, Sharon Stone and Sandra Bullock - as someone whom you thoroughly enjoy watching, whether the character is comedic, serious, tragic, or whatever. This movie's a "9," its predecessor about a "5-1/2."

I found this movie to be both unrealistic and unfunny. Patricia Heaton and Jeff Daniels made for one of the worst couples I've ever seen in a movie. There was poor chemistry between the two. I thought that the idea of these two people falling in love with each other was funnier then the film itself. Having said that, the lone highlight of the film is Hallie Kate Eisenberg as the young Lucy McFadden. She was the funniest aspect of this film. I also found Alan Cumming as the play director to be quite humorous. But the few laughs I had while watching this would not be enough to recommend this to anyone. This movie should not be meant for anything other than a bad Lifetime movie.

The 2005 remake of the film "The Goodbye Girl", was one of the worst movies I have ever seen and would not recommend this movie to anyone. I did not like this movie because the actors in this case being Jeff Daniels and Patricia Heaton had no chemistry. The movie didn't flow well at all it was like swimming through syrup. Another reason why this movie was bad is because the plot line of these two complete strangers all of sudden living together and then falling in love is so unrealistic its disgusting. The lone bright spot in this movie was Hallie Kate Eisenberg who played Lucy McFadden. She gave off a good sense of what it is like being a child of a single parent. She played her role very well. Besides that blip of goodness this movie was awful and I would not suggest wasting your time watching it.

Had I not seen the 1977 picture first, I would have gone into this with an open mind. However, I had, and it was completely dreadful. Somethings in life shouldn't be remade. I love the Dreyfuss/Mason version because it's a bittersweet film, meant for those who love either the actors at their best or the genre. Anyway.....I heard about this being made and I thought it wouldn't be too bad. I mean Patricia and Daniels are quite talented. Contrary to belief, this TV movie was gutter material with second rate acting. They put the actors with the wrong characters, so it all seemed trash. They placed Alan Cumming, a very talented actor, in a very underhanded and under minded role, so we rarely see him use his creative juices. Same with Daniels. Patricia,who one could have done without with her pathetic Albertsons ads, would have been almost bearable in another film. Leave the '77 masterpiece alone, don't kill it!