LOOK WHO'S TALKING
US, 1989, 90 minutes, Colour.
John Travolta, Kirstie Alley, Olympia Dukakis, George Segal, Abe Vigoda, Voice of Bruce Willis.
Directed by Amy Heckerling.
Look Who's Talking is quite an amusing comedy. It is one of the many films about babies from the late '80s (Raising Arizona, Baby Boom, Three Men and a Baby, She's Having a Baby etc.).
Kirstie Alley is a vivacious single mother, John Travolta an engaging cab driver, George Segal the self-centred father of the child, Olympia Dukakis the mother. The voice of the baby is that of Bruce Willis.
The film is pro-life - showing the life of the child from its very beginnings with the comic device of the voice-over, with the comments about what is happening and about its perspective, from the baby. It is a verbalising of what happens in early life.
The film is fairly funny, especially seen with an audience who shares the enjoyment of the adventures of the baby. The film was written and directed by Amy Heckerling (Fast Times at Ridgmont High) after having a child of her own.
1.Amusing comedy? The ingredients of a situation comedy? Characters, life, the perspective of the baby?
2.New York settings, affluent business world, the world of the cab driver, apartments and restaurants? Musical score - and songs?
3.The title, the irony? The voice of Bruce Willis and its appropriateness for the baby? The range of shots of the baby, so natural, the techniques of the actors working with the baby?
4.Themes of life, the credits and procreation (and the end)? The embryo, alive, a person? The mystery of the child's growth? Communication with the mother? The treatment of the child by adults? The experience of birth and its aftermath? The baby's perspective of coming into the world, its own life and self, relationships, with the mother, father figure, other people, other babies? The baby's view of adults? Jokes, likes and dislikes, saying `Dad'?
5.Kirstie Alley as Molly: vivacious, her job, skills, her friends and discussing situations and relationships with them? Albert and his relationship, love, her believing him, the pregnancy? Discussing with her mother, with her father doing the accounts and not saying anything? The visit to the doctor? Going shopping? Discovering Albert with the interior decorator? The break from him? Her preparation, discontinuing the classes? The build-up to the arrival of the baby?
6.Her anxiety, the beginning of the birth, getting the cab, James and his rushing through the traffic - and her anger, trying to get him to slow down? In the hospital, the pain, wanting some drugs? The birth, her delight with the baby? The comments of the baby? The arrival of James, clashes with him? The agreement about babysitting? Wanting a father, the various dates - and the comic touches, the men's eccentricities? Her mother's visits and the discussions? The sex jokes - the splinter sequence? Seeing Albert, not wanting to visit him, doing his accounts? His change of heart, his selfish phases? The scene in the office? In love with James, resisting him? Talking things over, their relationship, her going to help James's grandfather? With the baby, the baby in the car, on the road? reconciliation with James?
7.James, John Travolta's style, cab driving, helpful, the rush, his returning the purse, playing with the baby, babysitting, the bond between the two, his comments on the dates, persuading the man to let Molly pay? The encounter with Albert and the clash? His grandfather and the scheme for the letters to go to Molly's house? The visits to the grandfather? Molly and her help? The love for the baby? The happy marriage? The second child - and the new baby's comments?
8.Albert, successful executive, self-preoccupied, selfish phases, his relationship with his wife, his always talking about his children? Love for Molly? Her pregnancy? His liaison with the decorator? Meeting Molly again, wanting her back? The visit and the clash with the baby? Molly's visit to his office - and her destructive phase? The satire on the self-centred middle aged man?
9.The grandfather, his age, his teeth, his absent-mindedness, moving house, love for James, attracted to the baby, attracted to Molly? Her helping him out, the diabetes?
10.Molly's mother, her pushiness, the relationship with her husband?
11.The various dates - and the comedy of her imagining a life with them, their being so particular about detail? The image of her life with James in poverty?
12.The light enjoyable touch - and the comments about relationships and children?
