Was, du willst nicht? (1979)

Was, du willst nicht?: Directed by Howard Zieff. With Barbra Streisand, Ryan O’Neal, Paul Sand, Whitman Mayo. A bankrupt entrepreneur attempts to recoup some of her losses by getting a washed-out boxer she picked up as a tax loss back into the ring – an idea her protégé isn’t fond of.

“The real bout in this movie may be between Barbra Streisandu0026#39;s talent and Babsu0026#39; ego. Can the often-inspiring light comedienne of u0026quot;Whatu0026#39;s Up Docu0026quot; and u0026quot;Funny Girlu0026quot; overcome La Streisandu0026#39;s need to be the center of every scene?u003cbr/u003eu003cbr/u003eItu0026#39;s a reunion flick between Streisand and u0026quot;Docu0026quot; co-star Ryan Ou0026#39;Neal. Sheu0026#39;s perfume magnate Hillary Kramer, undone by an embezzling accountant. Heu0026#39;s Kid Natural, a former prize fighter who represents Hillaryu0026#39;s one asset, if only she can get him in the ring. Heu0026#39;d rather stick to his new career as a driving instructor.u003cbr/u003eu003cbr/u003eu0026quot;Do you want my body on your head for the rest of your life?u0026quot; he asks her.u003cbr/u003eu003cbr/u003eMore than boxing, sex is the main event of the film, from the opening shots of Streisand working out in spandex leotards to the charged byplay between the stars. She teases her ex-husband with pelvic thrusts and dances around the ring with Kid in short-shorts and a halter top with no bra. This is distracting to some extent but helps arouse the movieu0026#39;s one undeniable asset: The chemistry between Ou0026#39;Neal and Streisand.u003cbr/u003eu003cbr/u003eFor an actor made entirely of wood, Ou0026#39;Neal is surprisingly spry and able, taking pratfalls, playing shamelessly off his good looks, and trying to get out of the deal with Hillary by clenching his fists and telling her of his vow to u0026quot;never again use these, these messengers of death.u0026quot; He lives in a giant glove by a freeway which advertises his driving instructions in neon. He proudly claims it an investment made with Hillaryu0026#39;s money.u003cbr/u003eu003cbr/u003eFor her part, Streisand is clearly the more dominant partner in a way she wasnu0026#39;t in u0026quot;Docu0026quot;. The movie starts and ends with a big close-up on her, and the boxing part of the story is shortchanged in order to keep her in the frame as much as possible. Howard Zieff directs this as a vanity project, since thatu0026#39;s what it is, with soft lighting playing up her russet locks at every opportunity.u003cbr/u003eu003cbr/u003eBut Streisand justifies the spotlight by playing to Hillaryu0026#39;s weaknesses as much as her strengths. Hillary has no clue about boxing, but doesnu0026#39;t let that stop her. After the Kid is dinged up in one early match, she announces a new plan: u0026quot;Better fights with nicer peopleu0026quot;.u003cbr/u003eu003cbr/u003eAnother early scene of Kramer running her perfume business has her deliver a line that seems a playful nod at Streisandu0026#39;s own famously imperious rep: u0026quot;I want you to go away to a very quiet place, let your brilliant and creative minds blossom with original ideas, and then bring me back exactly what Iu0026#39;m talking about.u0026quot; It might not be as funny delivered by someone else, but thatu0026#39;s a benefit to having Barbra on the job.u003cbr/u003eu003cbr/u003eThereu0026#39;s enough general funniness like that to overcome the defects of too much Barbra and an ending that literally throws in the towel rather than resolves the romantic tension between Hillary and Kid in a fun yet convincing manner. Also on the plus side, you have Whitman Mayo as Kidu0026#39;s cagey manager and one great theme song, a molten disco masterpiece which Barbra sings with all the relish of Shirley Bassey pouncing on u0026quot;Goldfingeru0026quot;. I think it made the film such a success in 1979, more than the critical notices of the time which were horrible.u003cbr/u003eu003cbr/u003eSo score this one talent over ego, if by points rather than knockout. u0026quot;The Main Eventu0026quot; is no classic, but itu0026#39;s good enough to make me smile all these years later.”