PATERNITY
US, 1981, 94 minutes, Colour.
Burt Reynolds, Lauren Hutton, Beverley D'Angelo, Paul Dooley, Norman Fell, Elizabeth Ashley.
Directed by David Steinberg.
Paternity is a pleasing Burt Reynolds vehicle. During the '70s Reynolds alternated his action films with more sophisticated comedies and dramas. The action films were very popular, especially the Smokey and the Bandit features and Hooper. He tried to enter into the world of sophisticated comedy with such films as Starting Over, Rough Cut. He himself directed a variety of films including the action feature Gator, the very black comedy The End and the police thriller Sharkey's Machine.
Paternity is old fashioned in its style but contemporary in its themes. The manager of Madison Square Garden discovers him self in midlife crisis and wants a child for some kind of immortality. He employs a surrogate mother, they fall in love and there is a conventional, pro-life, happy ending. The film generally has the light touch and its appeal is a matter of taste and response to Burt Reynolds and comic routines. He has a very good supporting cast with him, headed by the charming Beverly D'Angelo (from Hair, Coalminer's Daughter, Honky Tonk Freeway). There are glossy New York locations, a gallery of humorous characters and a pleasant romantic score made up of old songs. The credit sequence is amusing with David Shyers' ironic song Baby Talk. Beneath the light comedy touch is a serious underlying theme of midlife crisis, love, children and family.
1. A satisfying Burt Reynolds vehicle? Burt Reynolds' popularity? His action style, suave comic style? His playing his comic style against his tough style? How well does it work here? In the tradition of the sophisticated comedies of the '30s and '40s?
2. The film as New York comedy: the use of the city, its skyline, Madison Square Garden, cafes, apartments, parks, clinics? A contemporary '80s American story?
3. The score and its atmosphere? The credits song and its tone? The pictures of the babies, the music, their squealing? The humorous comment?
4. The contemporary moral attitudes towards mid-life crisis, surrogate parents? The characters' emphasis on the biological contract, non emotional involvement, legal and financial contracts? The inevitability of change in both partners? The human contact, the acting out of fantasy, the repercussions on feelings, sense of responsibility, belonging? The change in both partners? Their growing to share the experience of parenthood? The experience of parenthood? The fostering and growth of love? How credible was this contract partnership transforming into love and marriage?
5. The title and the ironic reference to babies? The importance of maternity? The focus on the children during the credits, Buddy and his friendship with the children in the park with the humorous comments? Kurt's son, their discussions, basketball playing? The motivation for wanting a child? Self centredness, shock of middle age, questions about immortality? His self centredness, possessiveness, anxiety? His masculine approach of contract without realising emotional involvement? His experience of change?
6. The doctor and his support? Examining him? His advice as a friend? His continued consultations with him? The growing friendship with Maggie? The preparation for childbirth and the lessons? How good a friend to Buddy and Maggie?
7. Kurt and his friendship with Buddy, his marriage and family and highlighting Buddy's aloneness? The man about town being envied by the father? The father being envied by the man about town? His talk, work, his not having Buddy's skill but supporting him? The humour of the birthday sequence, the singing telegram and Buddy's embarrassment? The quality of his friendship?
8. The humour of the auditions sequence, the irony of auditions for maternity? The range of characters? The variety of aspects of the feminine: the frightening of the girl in the butcher's shop ? with the overtones of meat, flesh, blood? The various ugly girls? The inadequate girls? The smugness of Buddy's holding the auditions? The irony of Jenny coming for the interior decorating, the long tradition of dialogue of misunderstanding, Buddy's liking her, the long chase, the boat and the ironic meeting with Maggie?
9. The introduction to Maggie, her work in the restaurant, music lessons, ambitions for Paris, lacking finance? The chance encounter with the pursuit of Jenny? The quick making of the deal? Her ingenuity and initiative in getting a contract, a lawyer, a woman lawyer? The deal about the money and her role as baby maker?
10. The build up of the relationship: business side, acquaintance? Emphasis on the biological? The difficulties of the conception, the hotel comedy, the fantasy? The beginnings of a personal relationship?
11. Maggie's pregnancy and Buddy's concern about her? The lessons, the meals? Maggie's growing jealousy? Buddy and his cavalier attitude - especially in the encounter with Sofia? Sofia's shrewdness in realising the situation? The woman talk and Sofia's withdrawing after giving advice to Maggie? Maggie and her determining her future, running away and provoking Buddy?
12. Buddy and the realisation, his pursuit of Maggie, the reconciliation?
13. The happy ending - and the irony of Buddy having girls, not boys?
14. The light touch in the contemporary love story with ironic variations? Audiences identifying with characters,, settings? Values and lifestyles? The positive approach to love, parenthood, children?
