review for Getting Straight on AllMovie

Considering its time of release and subject matter, Getting Straight holds up much better than might be expected. Some of its flaws, which were obvious at the time, actually are less bothersome now. Chief among them the fact that Straight is a film that pretends to be about the conflict between the conventional and the unconventional, but which is very conventional in its approach, style, and structure. As such, it sometimes comes across as pandering, trying to exploit the then-current student unrest that was prevalent in the headlines without really exploring it with as much honesty and subtlety as it might. Fortunately, when the film veers away from the "big issues" and focuses instead on delineating its characters, it is much more successful. Even the stereotypes in Straight come with a few surprising edges to them, and that helps to enrich the picture. Richard Rush also deserves credit for some fairly imaginative and effective direction, but the film's biggest asset is star Elliott Gould. Playing a character who can't find a segment of society in which he totally fits, Gould stands apart from others even when he' assimilating. There's confusion and discomfort in his portrayal, yet also a great deal of strength and purpose, and a fine combination of vulnerability and weary cynicism. It's an exceptionally fine performance, and one which is crucial to holding Straight together. With Gould at its center, Getting Straight emerges as an uneven but quite interesting effort.