thanks to a dull and dimensionless screenplay by neil simon and and lackluster direction from robert moore and chapter two become a shrill showcase for marsha mason who receive her third of four oscar nod for chapter two give the same performance here that she give in cinnderella liberty ( 73 ) and the goodbye girl ( 77 ) and audrey rise ( 78 ) and only when i laugh ( 81 ) while only this time she doesn not have a child to drag around . chapter two be the third and last feature film for moore have previously direct neil simon the cheap detective ( 78 ) and murder by death ( 76 ) . caan be miscast and the character be mono dimensional and the dialog be overly analytical and and there virtually no establish detail . the first half be a less than captivating and meet cute and coy romance between a blinkered caan and a chipper mason and and the dreary second half make you long for the first half . the nyc location as well a joe bologna and and a painfully thin valerie harper be irrelevant and but at least they provide some welcome distraction . and last and least and there an awful song play during the credit .