I am only giving this movie a 1 for the great cast, though I can't imagine what any of them were thinking. This movie was horrible

Ok... Let's be honest. It cannot be the best movie but is quite enjoyable. The movie has the potential to develop a great plot for future movies

By the time the dramatic fireworks start popping off, each one feels earned.

The first must-see film of the year.

This film is a fun evocation of the times, with young bohemian types in lower middle class New York city. The main protagonist is a very sympathetic character, by far the best of the film, an aspiring your actor who is leaving home and dealing with his Jewish mother. You also get the young Christopher Walken, Jeff GOldblum, Ellen Greene, and several others in their earliest roles, so film buffs will love to see them.Unfortunately, very little happens in the film, in the middle it kind of dragged, for me at least. Some of them get ready for the next stage, most of them don't. Pfft.I do like this film, indeed I watched it when I was contemplating moving to New York. But it didn't bear a critical re-watching at a more mature age, one of the crucial tests for film classics. I watched it and felt, so what?

"Next Stop, Greenwich Village" is the semi-autobiographical tale of young Paul Mazursky. It is an often nostalgic, sentimental look back at a magical place called Greenwich Village, during a still innocent, idealistic early 1950's.The story revolves around young Larry Lapinsky, played marvelously by Lenny Baker. Larry is moving out of his parents apartment in Brooklyn and moving to Manhattan to become the next Marlon Brando. We are introduced to his bohemian friends, all of whom are trying to evolve into a true Greenwich Village "artist" or is it "artiste".We also meet Larry's parents, who may just be the original stereotypes of the smothering Jewish mother, and quiet but authoritative, Jewish father. Larry's mother is the type who will travel 20 miles out of her way, and tell her son that she was "in the neighborhood". She is also an overbearing button pusher, trying to control Larry and his relationship with his girlfriend.The cast is top notch with early performances by Christopher Walken, Jeff Goldblum, and Ellen Greene standing out. Shelly Winters is excellent as Fay, Larry's mother. Lou Jacobi is another standout as Larry's employer, and watch during a bar scene, when Larry first moves to the Village, for a quick glimpse of Bill Murray.Mazursky is famous for putting elements of his life on the screen. No one can deny that at the end of the movie, when Larry leaves New York to go to California to appear in a movie, that it is identical to Mazursky's leaving New York to be in "The Blackboard Jungle". He was also one of the new breed of filmmaker's that made the late '60's to mid '70's a truly golden era for fresh, new, ideas in writing and directing films."Next Stop, Greenwich Village" is at times a little self-indulgent, and too long, but is still an appealing look back at a time when everything was possible, as told by a true visionary filmmaker.6 out of 10

This is not a great film but it is sweet and has it's moments. It also has a cast of soon to be stars. While it was interesting to see Shelley Winters when she could still pull off dark hair, it was even more interesting to see a young Christopher Walken and a young Jeff Goldblum. Also seen are Vincent Schiavelli of character actor fame and an almost microsecond uncredited cameo by Bill Murray.The movie isn't great but for a movie fan its worth the time if for no other reason to see if you can spot all of the soon to be's.

I stumbled on this film on USA last night, about 15 minutes in. It was alternately comedic and touching, with Lenny Baker playing a 20-something (Larry Lapinsky) in Greenwich Village in the '50s. Shelley Winter played his mother, who had a knack for showing up at the most inopportune moments and embarrassing her son. Both of them, along with Mike Kellin as Mr. Lapinsky, give excellent nuanced performances.The central action of the movie is around Larry's attempts to become an actor, and around his friends in the village. The dialog is generally snappy and both dialog and visuals can be out-loud funny at times. 7/10.