The film’s premise might not sound like much but the 1970s had a knack for making films so authentic and gritty, turning even the simplest and basic of stories into a gripping experience. Think Love Story or Cruising for example. Kramer vs. Kramer is no exception. A story that – in this age of Cowboys vs. Aliens – is as focused as it gets, becomes as sharp and engaging as any. Thanks to the stunning performances of Hoffman and Streep and their incredible chemistry. The dialogue writing is fantastic too. The film tries not to take sides, which I applaud but the lack of a direct female perspective kind of makes Hoffman appear like the hero of the film, but that is a minor irritaiton. The end is satisfying and not too cheesy, something that can be hard to pull off when treading on such familiar and fragile terriroty.

It is a classic and rightfully so.