The World According to Garp

[George Roy] Hill's "Garp" is a dense, rich, textured work, a sequence of scenes ultimately creating a complex, complicated life, one that is at once funny, horrifying and heartbreaking.

Something has to be wrong with a film that can take material as intractable as Garp and make it palatable.

Garp is one of those perfect movies; it makes you laugh and it makes you cry.

If you hated the book you’ll loath the movie.

There is no doubt that what Hill has accomplished is titillating. But some very powerful emotions are trashed in this movie, and some tender sensibilities are trampled on.

There is art and subtlety in the role [of Roberta] as it is written for the movie; and there is artistry and subtlety in the way the role is acted by John Lithgow.

Casting Robin Williams in the role was a stroke of genius.

If the tragedy of this movie is its subliminal sexism, perhaps its hope lies in a sequel: The World According to Jenny.