BYE, BYE, LOVE
US, 1995, 106 minutes, Colour.
Matthew Modine, Randy Quaid, Paul Reiser, Janeane Garofalo, Amy Brenneman, Eliza Dushku, Rob Reiner, Ed Flanders, Maria Pittillo, Ross Mallinger, Lindsay Crouse, Johnny Whitworth, Wendell Pierce, Jayne Brook, Mae Whitman.
Directed by Sam Weisman.
Bye, Bye Love, is an entertaining comedy with some food for thought from the mid-1990s, reflecting changes in American social situations, especially with divorce, the breakup of the nuclear family, single parents, custody issues and visitation rights.
The screenplay takes its tone from the popular song, Bye, Bye, Love.
The film focuses on three divorced fathers and how they handle their situations. Matthew Modine is a roving eye father, Randy Quaid is a father angry with his ex-wife and trying to do the best for his children, Paul Reiser is still pining for his ex-wife but finding it difficult to communicate with his daughter. There are various crises as the fathers have to deal with the children or with their ex-wives.
There is quite some comedy with the introduction of Janeane Garofalo as a date for Randy Quaid, making all kinds of delays and demands in the restaurant to his exasperation – although, she does finish up on the side of the angels.
There is also a plot strand involving McDonald’s?, where the fathers take their children, and an elderly man, Ed Flanders, going into the geezer program of employment and making friends with one of the youngsters working there, Johnny Whitworth.
There is quite some satiric amusement in the character played by Rob Reiner, who hosts a radio show, promotes himself as a marriage counsellor, has a whole lot to say about divorce – until finally challenged by Randy Quaid who invades his studio, attacks him, but is invited to join in the conversation and finds that he has a flair for this kind of radio talk.
While the film comes from the 1990s, it is still relevant in later decades.
1. The title, the song and its use? The wry comment? The blend of the comic and serious?
2. The end of the 20th century? Issues of marriage, divorce, children, custody, visits? The style of visits, the venues and Mc Donald’s?
3. The American city, homes, Mc Donald’s, the fans, restaurants? Middle-class life that audiences could identify with?
4. The range of the cast, their skills, styles? The songs the musical score?
5. The three husbands, the introduction to each, the actors and their creation of character? The background of the marriages? Present at the wedding and discussing Dave? Relationship with their children, their ex-wives, the tensions?
6. Dave, his wife, her exasperation, his son and daughter, flirtatious man, with younger women, Kim and her living in, his going to the sport and meeting the wives, the kids and their attitudes, wary of him, Kim preparing the meal, the reaction of the boy, the visits of the wives, their bringing food? Kim and her reaction? Dave and his failings?
7. Vic, his hard ex-wife, his relationship with his children, the daughter and her babysitting the younger ones, his aspirations, the driving teacher, with the other men, bonding? The discussions about The Yearling and the family watching and weeping? The arrangement of the date, calling on Lucille, the restaurant and her choices, his exasperation at her responses at the restaurant?
8. Donny, pining for his wife, stalking, the new marriage, his daughter and the relationship, fussy, her graduation, her saying she was forced to visit him, the elaborate preparation of the meal, the argument, her leaving? Going to see Dave’s wife, the sexual attraction? Breaking off? His confession to Dave and the awkward moment?
9. The theme of the older generation, Walter, widower, memories of his wife, the photos at home? The Mc Donald’s program about helping old geezers? His application, the boss, consideration, working with Max, enjoying the work, discussions with Max, the girls flirting with Max, Max unhappy at home, Walter inviting him to live with him? His being persuaded to go to the party, the girls and their flirting, watching Max, his dancing with the unexpected girl, Donny’s daughter and her being hurt, drinking, driving with the friend, crashing?
10. The weekend outings, going to the fair, the men together, the children and their interactions?
11. The DJ, his continued talk about divorce, promoting himself, everyone listening to the program? His irritating the men? Vic finally going, confront him in the studio, the fight, calming down, Vic answering the questions, enjoying the interaction, and his future on the radio program?
12. A year later, relationships, partly mended, tensions remaining, the children, Donny and his daughter and the episode in the tree house, his marrying Dave’s ex-wife, her expecting? Dave and his relationship with Kim?
13. The effect of the film as mirroring contemporary marriage and divorce situations, insights?
