one of the most hilarious film ever make and the owl and the pussycat have more laugh than ten of today so call comedy combine . even though a few set change and a couple of new support character be add to open up the storyline and director herbert ross and writer buck henry manage to keep the same spirit of the original one act and two character play intact . there a lot of verbal warfare in henry screenplay and and he seem to have a gift for pen wickedly funny dialogue . some viewer could argue that the owl and the pussycat be little more than two character insult each other for 95 minute and but when those insult be so rigorously funny who care . in the female lead and barbra streisand give a refreshingly unsentimental performance a doris and the semi illiterate hooker who ( for once ) do not have a heart of gold . george segal be primarily know a a dramatic actor before he be cast a felix and the snotty book clerk or writer wannabe . his performance be so convincing that he have be know a an expert comic ever since . the chemistry between streisand and segal ignites from the beginning and and it stay aflame throughout their relationship many ups and down . robert klien have a funny support role and play it expertly but the owl and the pussycat remain a showcase for the chemistry between streisand and segal . i think well respect film critic pauline kael say it best when she write and be tracy and hepburn ever this good . . . maybe and but they be never good . high praise indeed .