"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.