It hits the mark ...

It's been more then a decade since I last watched GOODBYE GIRL. I consider it one of Neil Simon's best work and Richard Dreyfuss, Marsha Mason, and Quinn Cummings do Oscar winning work in their respective roles. The movie is loaded with humor and the threesome do a spot on job of bringing Elliott, Paula and Luch to life.
Dreyfuss plays Elliott Garfield an egotistical stage actor who comes to New York to play in an off off Broadway production of Richard the Third. The play bombs and Elliott is without work.
Mason plays a single mom, Paula McFadden, who used to be a dancer (raising a 10 year daughter) who just got "dumped" by her live-in lover Tony who (without Paula's knowledge) subletted their apartment to Elliott for 3 months.
Cummings is the 10 year old daughter Lucy who plays her role as though she was born to it. And her mom works hard to give Lucy as normal a life as possible.
Strugging New York stage actors are a dime a dozen and in GOODBYE GIRL you get an up and close personal look at one of them (i.e., Elliott Garfield). Dreyfuss was not the first choice for the role but his Oscar winning performance is evident that he certainly was the best. When he first arrives at Paula's apartment door soaking wet we learn quickly that he and Paula aren't going to be best buddies any time soon. In fact Paula will do whatever she can to keep the apartment knowing Elliott has a signed three month lease in his wet hands. But feelings change and eventually Elliott and Paula start liking each other (much to the delight of Lucy). The movie also has a great supporting cast featuring Paul Benjamin.
Indeed GOODBY GIRL is Neil Simon at his writing best and the ensemble cast carried the movie all the way to the Oscars.