A FISH IN THE BATHTUB

US, 1999, 96 minutes, Colour.
Jerry Stiller, Anne Meara, Mark Ruffalo, Jane Adams, Missy Yager, Paul Benedict, Doris Roberts, Phyllis Newman, Val Avery, Bob Dishy.
Directed by Joan Micklin Silver.

A Fish in the Bathtub is a film about a forty-year marriage and the tensions between husband and wife. What makes it interesting is that the couple is played by Jerry Stiller and Anne Meara, married for fifty-five years when this film was made. (Perhaps it is disappointing to find Mark Ruffalo in the role of their son instead of their actual son, Ben Stiller.)

The film is humorous, draws on the traditional comedy between Stiller and Meara, especially the tension between her Catholic background and his Jewish background, with her converting but still in contact with the parish priest as well as the rabbi.

Mark Ruffalo plays their real estate agent son who is trying to cope with their break-up, his wife and himself and little daughter, the grandmother’s favourite, trying to deal with the grandmother moving in and controlling everything. Jerry Stiller is entertaining as the woebegone husband – aggressive and not understanding his wife’s sensitivity. In the meantime the son has difficulty in the rather seductive client he has for selling a house, his sister (Jane Adams) also has had a succession of relationships and is trying to deal with her father as well. There is a very humorous scene where the whole family goes to one of her former boyfriends who is a counsellor – and the episode is a fiasco. Bob Dishy is an obsessive elder gentleman who is attracted towards the wife, their meeting at driving lessons. However, he is interested in encyclopaedic information, delivering it at any time. In the meantime there is the background of male and female friends of husband and wife with such character actors as Paul Benedict and Doris Roberts. Phyllis Newman is the husband’s attractive next-door-neighbour, a widow, who tries to cheer him up.

The film was directed by Joan Micklin Silver who, between 1975 and 85, made a number of fine films including Hester Street, Chilly Winds of Winter, Crossing Delancey.

1. A wry comedy? A comedy of age? Perceptions on long-term marriages? Their tensions?

2. The US domestic background, homes, shops and changing neighbourhoods, restaurants? An urban comedy?

3. The title, the fish, Sam and his buying it, Molly’s reaction, his putting it in the bathtub? Needing someone to talk to? Finally setting it free?

4. The cast, the real-life couple and their performance together? The Jewish- Catholic background? The rabbi and the priest at the end, giving their advice?

5. Sam, Jerry Stiller’s style, the buying of the buns in the rain, his old shop, the opening clashes between Sam and Molly, Molly being upset, their both being angry, both being hurt, the issue of blame? Sam and his crisis, with his wife, with his retirement, with the change in his shop? His reactions? Some nasty touches? Molly and the effect, her leaving? Sam and his age, forty years, the shop? Molly as bossy? The reactions, the phone calls, the friends and their visits, the playing cards, Molly opening the window, the cigar, Sam shutting it? Molly as wife and mother, doting grandmother?

6. Joel, his clients in the car, Molly bringing them in, his father wanting him to change the light bulb? His job, skills, the meeting with Tracy and her husband? Her coming on to him? Going to the restaurant, the same where he had proposed to his wife? The racquetball game? His going to her house for the break-up and discovering his friend Matt? Sharon, their daughter, Molly turning up, taking over the house, rearranging everything? The tensions, Sharon unable to oust Molly, pleased with her compliments? Sharon and Ruthie giving her the information about Tracy? Sam and his stalking Molly in the street, the police, the car, his arrest, bailing him out of jail?

7. Ruthie, her work, her role as daughter, intervening, arguing? Her relationships? Failures? The job, travel agent, her boyfriend? Joel and his visit, their argument? Ruthie telling Sharon about Tracy? Going to the jail?

8. Sam, Sylvia as the neighbour, her own story, her husband and collecting birds, a widow? Inviting Sam over for the meal? Her loneliness? At the end, Sam handing her over to Mr Moskowitz for the dance?

9. Molly and Moskowitz, the driving school, going out together, the flowers, the celebration of graduation, the dance, his quoting encyclopaedias in detail? His being steered off to Sylvia?

10. Tracy as a type, seductive, her husband, the house? The relationship with Matt?

11. Sam and Molly and the range of friends, their age, chatter, coming over, the socials? Playing cards? Milo as Sam’s best friend, his giving advice, his death? The women and their packing up Molly’s things and taking them away?

12. The session with the counsellor, the comic touches, his assistant, Ruthie’s reaction, Sam and his unwillingness to participate, Sharon and her accusations against Joel? Fiasco?

13. The final dance, the reconciliation, the roses, the kissing, everybody dancing? Reconciliation?

14. The appeal to an older audience, middle-aged audience? Younger audiences and their facing questions about their parents?