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It is not likely that the NYTimes is going to choose an Albert Brooks movie as one of the Best 1000 or 10,000. But we can enjoy Brooks just the same in a quiet way.

Modern Romance (1981) is a 'new' take (it is the 80's) on formula romance.

Brooks does his usual self absorbed neurotic around a 'relationship'. He is so needy that he all but melts the screen.

And the girl friend is not much better. She eventually just succumbs to his continual emotional blackmail to quiet him down.

I know. It doesn't sound like particularly attractive fare. Woody Allen has probably done it better.

But Brooks has some set pieces which are just hilarious. A scene in a sporting goods store; self improvement. A date with another woman which ends up as a no talk ride in the car circling back to the girl's house. Brooks tells her he just isn't ready after the breakup (which was yesterday) and so on.

There are a lot of these distractions while the simple plot bores through the mountain of the girlfriend's resistance.

You either like Brooks or not.

I like him in a kind of forbearance way.

I got this film because it was touted in the DVD section of the NYTimes. At least that is some recommendation. Would I get it again? No.

It is a 3 out of Netflix5.

There are better Brook's films.