moonspinner55 Review of Up the Sandbox

Up the Sandbox (1972)

"If this is what it's like to be a mother, I turn in my ovaries!"

[7/10 · 16 January 2001]

Low-keyed, but nevertheless wicked and funny comedy-drama that sneaks up on you. Barbra Streisand, in terrific comic form, plays a stressed-out, unsatisfied New York housewife afraid of telling her brilliant husband she's pregnant for the third time. The film is made up of her many daydreams, some of which are hilarious (the bit where she enlarges her breasts at a party) and some that meander without much point (the assault on the Statue of Liberty). Nevertheless, Barbra's lovely and is completely at ease in this non-flashy role, just as content to sit and listen to her girlfriends bitch in the park as she is telling off Fidel Castro at a political rally. David Selby is nicely understated as Barbra's husband and Jane Hoffman is a hoot as her meddling mother. I have many favorite lines from this film, but you rent "Up The Sandbox" and discover them for yourself. A minor treat. *** from ****