"Where's Poppa" is one of those films that you know could never be produced by a major studio today. It, along with "Harold and Maude" (which coincidentally also starred Ruth Gordon), belonged to a rare, lost breed of film that celebrated black comedy.

It was irreverent, and explored social issues(Alzheimer's, caring for the elderly, rape, feeling trapped in life) that nobody explored seriously for another decade. Although one would not ordinarily think of a Carl Reiner film as daring, or controversial, that is exactly what this film is.

George Segal is Gordon, a mid-thirtyish, semi-successful lawyer who is the guardian of his mother, who is clearly starting to be going through some sort of dementia. He has a brother who is only peripherally any help to him. Gordon realizes that his life is helplessly over, as long as his mother is around.

Trish Van Devere plays Louise, a not so very good nurse (all of her patients have died on her), who is Gordon's Florence Nightingale. Gordon and Louise fall in love, but cannot seem to get together because she knows she cannot compete with Momma.

The ending is a little bit of a cop out and too predictable. I have seen the alternate ending and have found that to be much more interesting and shocking. Although I'm sure that audiences in 1970 would have been repulsed.

The acting is first rate here. Not only are Segal and Gordon terrific, but there is outstanding supporting work from Ron Liebmann, Paul Sorvino, Barnard Hughes, Rob Reiner (with ex-wife Penny Marshall sitting behind him), and Vincent Guardino.

Not a perfect movie by any means, but a wonderful treasure from a time when filmmakers were more interested in communicating to an audience, and not just looking to have a huge opening weekend at the box office.

When I read the review before viewing this video, it said that "it was one of the funniest movies" ever. It turned out to not be that funny at all. I hardly cracked a smile. The movie rambled on with seemingly no point. The mother (played by Gordon) was a completely "nutcase". The brother in the movie just seemed to have no personality whatsoever. The mugging/arrest scenes just seemed to not do anything for the movie. The Rob Reiner scene was "overboard" and didn't have anything really to do with the movie (except that Rob is Carl, the director's, son). However, I will give it at least a 5, for this reason. Seagal plays the kind of man who was disappearing in 1970. I think his character was Jewish, but even if he wasn't, it shows the kind of loyalty that immigrant families had towards the elderly. His character had a terrible life. Probably the best scene was when Seagal bring his Mom to the first "old people's home". Paul Sorvino steals the movie, in a brief role, as a "brass knuckle" independent caretaker of the elderly, who is overworked, but doesn't seem to care about the people he is taking care of. The movie, in the end, does show the dilemmas of caring for an elderly parent, but was not that great, otherwise.

"Where's Poppa?" is the sort of movie that only Carl Reiner could direct and could probably only release around 1970. Casting George Segal as a lawyer still having to care for his demented, clingy mother (Ruth Gordon) - even though he's now found his dream-girl (Trish Van Devere) - the whole movie really goes all out. There are some scenes where, even though they set up what's about to happen, it's just a total hoot to watch it happen...especially everything that happens in the park! My point is, this is a true black comedy classic. But don't take my word for it; just watch the movie. Watch for some cast members in before-they-were-famous roles: Rob Reiner as Segal's courtroom defendant (in a role not far from Meathead on "All in the Family"), Penny Marshall as one of the courtroom spectators (though she doesn't have any lines), and future "Saturday Night Live" cast member Garrett Morris as one of the men in the park.