Nothing in Common

Amazon.com

Tom Hanks wanted to prove his dramatic talent in the mid-1980s, and Nothing in Common gave him a ripe opportunity. Playing an emotionally immature Chicago advertising executive, Hanks offers a prototype of his later, better role in Big--the joking man-child with seemingly limitless reserves of energetic humor, perfectly suited to director Garry Marshall's trademark blend of featherweight comedy and sentiment. The movie wanders aimlessly before settling into its dramatic groove, involving Hanks caring for his aging, diabetic father (Jackie Gleason, well cast in his final screen role) after his mother (Eva Marie Saint) files for divorce and strikes out on her own. Like Marshall's Pretty Woman, the movie hits several grace notes and finds unexpected depth in its characters and their need for loving connections. Meanwhile, there's cheesy nostalgia in the '80s trappings, including songs by Carly Simon and Christopher Cross, and Once and Again TV star Sela Ward in an early supporting role. --Jeff Shannon

Customer Reviews:

One of Hanks better movies...........2007-02-10

Before he went all soporific on everybody. Before he made the ill-advised "Philadelphia" and then the cleverer "Forrest Gump", Hanks was actually a fairly broad comic actor. Some of his movies hit the mark, like "Splash" and "The Money Pit", and others bombed badly, like "The Man With One Red Shoe" and "Bachelor Party". He was great at playing overly-confident, affable yuppies that were almost always put-upon in the extreme or finding themselves in odd situations, like he did in this one.

In this movie, Hanks plays David Basner, a hotshot adman in Chicago, with comical co-workers and upper-middle-aged parents that are breaking up. While he tries romancing the daughter of a major client, (Sela Ward, hubba-hubba!) he also has to deal with his poor father (Jackie Gleason) losing his wife of 40 years and his job, all within the same month! The "tough love" tenderness Basner uses with his dad is offset by the kid gloves he uses with his mother, played by Eva Marie Saint. There are some ingenious comic scenes in this film, such as the ad company presentation to the Texan airline owner client, father of the Sela Ward character, (the woman with the guitar voicing the old lady on the plane is priceless,) and some other ad proposals are done well too. However, it is the later scenes with Max, his father, that will probably get to you the most. This was Jackie Gleason's last movie, and it is LIGHT YEARS better than most of the stuff he starred in late in his career, specifically the "Smokey & The Bandit" movies and "The Sting II". Hanks would go on to make "Joe Versus The Volcano", which was really Meg Ryan's movie more than his, his last broad comedy, and then made "A League of Their Own", which changed his career as well as saved it. There was no looking back after "Philadelphia", which was actually his first totally dramatic role.

Frankly, I kinda miss the affable yuppy Hanks and would love to see him in another "Money Pit".

Whaddya say, Tom....huh?

Cats in the Cradle Revised.......2006-08-15

This is the first movie where Tom Hanks really began to show his depth. It was a film that required him to open with the comedic chops he's honed so well but then, because of the deepening of the film's story from comedy to drama, requested so much more of him. He ultimately delivers in spades.

This is really a story about a son moving very fast in the fast lane of advertising. He's a pro and he loves what he does. He's also a personality that lives on charm and in the moment. But when his parents separate after years of marriage, his life changes rapidly from no personal responsibilities to a multitude of them. It's also begs a question that rarely gets told well- how do sons and daughters deal with parents as life turns the tables and we suddenly start having to deal with listening to and taking care of them? The changing of roles and responsibilities. As the film unfolds, it presents those concerns with proper weight, depth, sadness, growth and understanding.

Gary Marshall directed the film prior to his mega hit with Pretty Woman but I really think this is the better film of the two. He draws the best from Jackie Gleason, Eva Marie Saint and Beth Armstrong and Hector Alonzo- each lending a real ensemble cast feeling to the piece and although Tom Hanks shines- so do they.

Jackie Gleason deserves special mention because he really plays a rather hard, sad man at the end of the road as a clothing salesman, and he digs deep, never lending anything false to how this man thinks, feels and operates. The exchanges between him and Hanks about how he was raised lend a real truth to the role.

If you're looking for a film that has some humor and some depth of feeling in the same breath, this is an interesting evening's viewing.

An underrated film that deserves a second look and a larger audience.

It could have been better.......2006-08-10

Tom Hanks plays an successful advertising agent. His life is running smoothly until his mother leaves his father. Then his dad loses his job. He's trying to help both out but his relationship with his dad is rocky. Family problems start to effect his work. It's about how Hank's character handles this new development and also the the relationships of the two women in his life. One, the daughter of the owner of the airline and the other an childhood sweetheart he's still friends with.

This movie started out slow so I'm thinking I'm going to be disappointed. Finally, the story picks up and it gets interesting. I think with better editing this could have been a very good movie instead of just okay.

Nothing exceptional.......2005-03-16

Tom Hanks is the young yuppie in Chicago who is a big hot-shot ad man, and Jackie Gleason (in his last screen role) is his father who has just lost his meager job and is facing divorce. Gleason comes across as most unlovable, and the conflict between Hanks and him produces quite a bit of noise. The selfish Hanks has to make some sacrifices for his father, as expected--there's the message. The movie tries to do too much, though, and not much of it in any depth. It's all surface.

More serious than you might expect for a film this funny.......2004-12-01

"Nothing in Common" is Tom Hanks' first dramatic role (though there are plenty of comedic moments) and Jackie Gleason's last movie role. Both do a fine job as a father and son who really have no use and less understanding of each other. Of course, there is a crisis (actually a series of crises) that forces them to choose further alienation or reconciliation. You will have to watch the movie to find out - and I encourage you to do so.

Tom Hanks plays David Basner, a young and talented up-and-coming ad executive. He is in all ways the flower of the YUPPIE ethos including the pre-AIDS casual attitude towards sex and relationships. Gleason plays Max Basner who is a way past his prime manufacturers rep for a children's clothes manufacturer. Max is by all accounts a difficult and angry man who used to be quite a charmer and ladies man.

Eva Marie Saint plays Lorraine Basner. Lorraine was trapped into a marriage some would call loveless, but it is much more complicated than that. Again, you will have to watch the movie to learn all the subtleties, but during the film she decides to break free and "find herself" by walking out of her home and marriage to file for divorce and get the first job of her life. Both Max and Lorraine begin relying on David in ways that reverse the parent - child relationship and put a real strain and the solo life and upward career path David is enjoying.

To complete the sea of troubles, David is in the middle of trying to land a huge airline deal for his firm that would likely make him a partner and has also developed a mutual attachment with Cheryl Ann Wayne (played by the amazing Sela Ward) who is important on the airline account for multiple reasons. Plus, there is the old friend who really needs to be more, Donna Martin, played wonderfully by Bess Armstrong.

Some have criticized the movie as having two minds. The stuff at the office is fun, raucous, aggressive, and often very funny. The Basner family saga is often very painful. I actually found the clash of these two stories more or less realistic. Many young professionals experience a much different life at work than at home and that leads to a lot of stress, broken marriages, and lots of counseling hours.

While I am not thrilled with all the choices the characters make along the way, I do think the movie ends in a good place - though some might find it maudlin. In my view, the character that comes off best is Charlie Gargas, David's Boss, played by the always effective Hector Elizondo.

Other reasons to view the film again are the very young and pre- Homer Simpson Dan Castellaneta, the now strange 80's fashions, and the wonderful exchanges between David Basner and the deadpan secretary, and Conrad Janis on trombone with his jazz band (however briefly).

I think the best reason to see the film is the performance delivered by Jackie Gleason. It is a tour de force of how to provide humanity to such an unsympathetic character. There is much subtlety and skill in his portrayal of Max Basner and it is very memorable.

Average customer rating:

One of Hanks better movies....
Cats in the Cradle Revised
It could have been better
Nothing exceptional
More serious than you might expect for a film this funny

Nothing in Common [Region 2]
Starring: Tom Hanks , Jackie Gleason , Eva Marie Saint , Hector Elizondo , and Barry Corbin
Director: Garry Marshall
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

General | Comedy | Genres | DVD | Video

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ASIN: B00005UWUH