NOTHING IN COMMON

US, 1986, 113 minutes, Colour.
Tom Hanks, Jackie Gleason, Eva Marie Saint, Sela Ward, Hector Elizondo, Bess Armstrong, Barry Corbin.
Directed by Gary Marshall.

Nothing In Common is a comedy drama about family relationships.. Tom Hanks portrays a yuppy on the rise in an advertising firm, who is alienated from his father but when his parents break up and his father becomes ill, he learns to listen to them and realises how much he loves them. Jackie Gleason is very good as the irascible salesman father, a minor Death of a Salesman story. His wife, played by Eva Marie Saint, walks out on him after 36 years and finds a life of her own. Despite her attempts to help, he cannot respond to her. She leaves.

In the Chicago settings, the film shows the world of advertising and commercial making, as well as of families. There is a good supporting cast including Bess Armstrong as a drama teacher in love with Hanks; Sela Ward as a cool company executive and Barry Corbin as her father. Hector Elizondo has an enjoyable role as an advertising businessman with problems with a toupee but with a sympathetic ear.

Direction is by TV entrepreneur Garry Marshall, whose other films include Young Doctors in Love, The Flamingo Kid, Overboard. His sister, Penny Marshall, directed Hanks in Big.

1. Interesting film about father and son relationships, husband-wife, mother-son? Career? In the American dream?

2. The use of Chicago locations, the world of advertising, sales? Homes? Musical score, title song? Songs inserted throughout the action?

3. The introduction to David: the holiday, promotion, the response of fellow workers, his new office, his humorous manner? His girlfriend and their relationship? Charles and the advertising world? His father's phone call? Visiting him briefly? The alienation? His mother and her explanation? Cheryl Anne and his approaching her, the irony of the meeting with her father, his behaviour during the meal, Cheryl Anne telling him off, going home for a one night stand?, His learning golf, information about birds and horses and getting the account after the weekend? The world of media: ideas conference about the campaign, the dramatic presentation of the airline ads? Charles and the problems about his hairpiece and Lorraine looking? The suddenness of his father being sacked? The break up with his girlfriend and the long talk? Shopping with his father, trying to get help for him, the arguments about childhood, getting him to go out, Mac's illness? Talking with his mother at the club, at home?, Understanding her point of view and experience? Her inability to tell him before? His decision to stay with his father for the operation, telling off Woolridge? His being fired, Cheryl Anne confirming it? His staying, concern, Donna and her sympathy? His going to his father, caring for him? After the operation? The ending? Understanding his mother leaving? Reconciled with Donna? Portrait of a change in a yuppy to understanding his career, family responsibilities and love?

4. The portrait of Mac: phone call, his bad relationship with his son and his Wife, jokes, the impact of Lorraine's leaving, his version compared with hers? His work, falling sales, seeing him on the job and his style, his eyes and the accident, sacked? His telling David? Being alone, needing help, the shopping, going out, drinking, ill? A bad patient in hospital? Before the operation, Lorraine's visit and their dialogue, the jokes, inability to finally communicate, his silence? Weeping when she left? David's presence, the recuperation ? and the collage of his recovery?

5. Lorraine and the 36 years of marriage, her decision to leave, the reasons, getting a house with Lucille, the help and consideration from David, getting a job, the date, talking to David in the club and talking frankly, embarrassed? Mac's illness and her talking to David, going to the hospital, an attempt at reaching out and communication, his inability? Her talking to David and explaining how she felt? The decision to leave?

6. Cheryl Anne and her glamour, the initial meeting, work at the meal, the one night stand, inviting David to the weekend, at home, the relationship, at work, the filming of the commercials? Her ambitions, firing him?

7. Her father and the meeting, his theories about eating, business, the phone service and his reaction to David? Golf, the hunting, the horses? His frank talking to David and firing him? The picture of the wealthy corporate boss?

8. Charles and his work, the comedy about the hairpiece, his relationship with people? His work in advertising? Lorraine and the hairpiece? His classes, his fads? His sympathetic talk about fathers and their illness, helping David in the crisis?

9. Donna, her theatre work, David's visits, their relationship, the break and the frank talk, her support of Mac, friendship with Lorraine, the reconciliation?

10. Roger and his directing the commercials, his ideas, the direction, the grannies and their auditions? The spoof on the television director?

11. The world of advertising and its ethos, yuppies, the filming of commercials, tactics for accounts, ideas conferences, styles of presentation with the group acting out the commercial to storyboards? The value of the campaign for Colonial Airways? Your home to their home via our home? The filming of the drunken grandmothers? Discussions with Roger, arguments about campaigns?

12. The touches of comedy? The touches of seriousness? How well did they blend? Impact about love and responsibility?