HotToastyRag Reuniting seven years after What's Up, Doc?, Barbra Streisand and Ryan O'Neal play a boxer and manager in the aptly titled The Main Event. If you're having trouble picturing Barbra as a boxing manager, don't worry. She only takes that job as a last-ditch effort to get her money back after losing her fortune, and she isn't supposed to know the ropes-no pun intended. Of course, since this is a comedy, Ryan and Barbra fall in love while she's training him. It's a classic case of love-at-first-hate for the pair, so if you like that sort of banter, you'll probably like this classic '70s romantic comedy. This one wasn't my favorite; I liked their first film together better, but it's not the worst movie in the world. I'm just more a realist when it comes to romance. I can't imagine falling for anyone I've initially hated.

Jay Raskin Unfortunately, this film suffers by comparison to "What's Up, Doc" which also starred Streisand and O'Neal. While it doesn't match the cleverness or zaniness of that film, it does move fast with enough clever lines and plot twists to keep us entertained. After "What's Up, Doc" and "The Owl and the Pussycat," this is the funniest straight comedy with Streisand.Streisand says on the DVD commentary that she hates boxing and the movie is really a metaphor for a woman trying to make it in a man's world. That seems about right. Actually Ryan O'Neil was a boxing fan, so there is some authenticity to the boxing, at least as much as the "Rocky" movies.William Mayo and Patti D'arbanville give nice support.Everybody seems to be having fun making the movie. Just sit back and enjoy.Incidentally, according to Barbara, it was the soundman who came up with the ending. It is quite a ridiculous ending, but it actually is a perfect ending.

ijonesiii 1979's THE MAIN EVENT was a lame attempt to rekindle the chemistry that Barbra Streisand and Ryan O'Neal created in WHAT'S UP, DOC?, in an attempt to make lightning strike twice at the box office. Well, the chemistry between the stars is still evident, but the story just does not do them justice this time. Streisand plays Hillary Kramer, a cosmetics tycoon who learns that her accountant as absconded with everything she owns and the only thing she has been left with is the contract of a washed-up ex-boxer (O'Neal). So to recoup her money, she makes him start boxing again and becomes his manager. Streisand works very hard to make her character likable but it is a struggle and O'Neal is just miscast as a boxer. He just doesn't look or act like a boxer. It's not boring, but both stars have been seen to better advantage. The best thing about this movie is the powerhouse theme song that Barbra sings over the closing credits. It is an absolute "Wow!"

MAX80 I echo the previous viewers comments. When released in 1979, THE MAIN EVENT was an immediate summer hit grossing $66 million in the US and $80 million around the world. The film was popular not only because it reunited the stars of the 1972 blockbuster WHAT'S UP, DOC?, but also because of it's light tone and old-fashioned fun.The story doesn't really matter, all you need to know is that the chemistry between the stars is fun and exciting and the screenplay gives them plenty of room to inhabit the screen. Streisand is as lovable as ever and O'Neal has rarely been more charming.As I said before: Good fun! 7/10.