Willie & Phil (1980)

Directed by Paul Mazursky
My rating: 3 stars out of 4
IMDb
(Fox Movie Channel)

Jules et Jim become Willie & Phil in this Americanized remake of the Truffaut classic. Willie & Phil meet at a screening of the original in Greenwich Village. They become fast friends, and soon meet Jeannette, played by Margot Kidder. In true 70s fashion they give the free love triangle a try, and it works for awhile. Willie and Jeannette eventually get married and have a kid, while Phil moves to California to make movies. Willie is unsatisfied with his life, and tries farming, commune living in Maui and Buddhist temples in India...with and without Jeannette. The threesome meet up again in California, resuming their unusual relationship. It's a breezy movie dealing with some interesting issues, with likable characters and appealing performances by all involved.