THE BUDDY SYSTEM

US, 1984, 110 minutes, Colour.
Richard Dreyfuss, Susan Sarandon, Nancy Allen, Jean Stapleton, Wil Wheaton.
Directed by Glenn Jordan.

The Buddy System is an enjoyable and leisurely comedy about relationships. It is particularly American in style and focuses on buddies - whether they be men and women, adults and children. Richard Dreyfus gives a pleasing performance as the hero and is well-matched by Susan Sarandon. Wil Wheaton is introduced as Susan Sarandon's son. He was to appear in Rob Reiner's Stand By Me in the young Steven King role. (It is interesting to note that in the adult sequences he was played by Richard Dreyfus.) There is an excellent supporting performance by Jean Stapleton (All In The Family) as Susan Sarandon's mother. Nancy Allen gives a lively eccentric performance as Dreyfuss's girlfriend. The film was directed by Glenn Jordan, usually a director of telemovies which have ranged from Les Miserables to The Women's Room and In The Matter Of Karen Ann Quinlan.

Not a must, but a pleasing look at human beings, their strengths and foibles.

1. An entertaining film? Families? Human nature? America?

2. The American city, home and environment? School and work? Musical score?

3. The title and its focus on friendships, relationships - American style? Universal?

4. Richard Dreyfuss's presence and style as Joe? Seeing him at work, security guard, at home, his inventions, his desire to write? His girlfriend and her psychology? His trapping people who send their children to the wrong school? His being blackmailed by the young boy? His befriending the boy, going to the concert? Clashing with his mother? Becoming friends with the boy, lending him books, explaining the inventions? The bonds - their becoming buddies? His being in the father role? The clash with his mother about the return of the books? Friendship, sharing, falling in love - buddies? The car breakdown and his helping his former girlfriend? Going back to her? Living in, being wearied by her psychological and dream talk? His inventions, success, failure? His exasperation? Longing for a more stable life? Going to the mother and finding out where the boy's mother was? Returning to the concert? The happy ending? Portrait of an American man? Typical? Father, love?

5. The boy and the sequences at home, his relationship with his mother, at school, with his grandmother? His swearing and his mother's comments? The bonds of love between him and his mother? The absent father? Needs? The encounter with Joe, trying to line him up with his mother? Sharing friendship, the ups and downs of the friendship, portrayed in great detail, the inventions, the home, the books and reading? His being pleased when his mother and Joe became friends? The parenting? The break? His moods? Moving home? The concert and the reconciliation? How well-portrayed were the attitudes of a young boy, his relationship with his mother and grandmother, need for a father or father-figure?

6. Susan Sarandon and her style as the heroine? Seeing her at home, lifestyle, her relationship with her son? With her own mother? The story as she told it - at high school, becoming pregnant, her mother's attitude, her father's attitude, her father's support of her, his death and her missing him? Her inability to make decisions? Commitment? Her skill as a solo parent? Going for jobs, pulling out of the typing exam? Her relationships, the affair with the boss - and the effect of his bowing out? The encounter with Joe, the concert, clash, her not being aware of her bog and the friendship with Joe, her anger in returning the books? Understanding, talk, the strength of the friendship, depth, sexual liaison, moving into friendship? The shared outings and their joy? The intrusion of Joe's girlfriend? The break-up, her being hurt? Her relationship with her mother, her mother's losing her job, not telling her mother about the new job, the decision to leave home, finding the new apartment? Her getting a better job? The happy ending?

7. The portrait of the mother: type, her house, memory of her husband, her hold over her daughter and her grandson, not affirming her daughter, her reaction to Joe, her talk about her job, losing it and not updating her qualifications? her retiring? The showdown with her daughter - the poignancy, the edge, the truth? Both parties being hurt? her giving the information to-.Joe about where to find her daughter? Her pleasure at the concert?

8. The girlfriend, attractive, work, her love for Joe, her psychological talk, referring everything to her group? The new boyfriend? Moving out? The car breakdown and her relying on Joe? Change of mind, living in, the new apartment, wearing Joe out with her psychological talk?

9. The boss, his attitudes towards his secretary, the affair? His bowing out?

10. A cross-section of contemporary life: humour, pathos, images of society?

11. Relationships: love, parenting, family?