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Nothing in Common
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Nothing in Common is a 1986 comedy-drama film, directed by Garry Marshall and starring Tom Hanks and comedian Jackie Gleason, in his last movie role. The film, released in 1986, was not a tremendous hit at first, but it became more popular as Tom Hanks' fame grew. Though not a financial success, the film is considered by some to be the pivotal role in Hanks' career because it marked his transition from less developed comedic roles to becoming a leading actor in more serious films, and features what some critics cite as a mesmerizing Gleason performance.
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Encyclopedia
Nothing in Common is a 1986 comedy-drama film, directed by Garry Marshall and starring Tom Hanks and comedian Jackie Gleason, in his last movie role. The film, released in 1986, was not a tremendous hit at first, but it became more popular as Tom Hanks' fame grew. Though not a financial success, the film is considered by some to be the pivotal role in Hanks' career because it marked his transition from less developed comedic roles to becoming a leading actor in more serious films, and features what some critics cite as a mesmerizing Gleason performance. It also marked an early role for rising star Sela Ward.
The original music score was composed by Patrick Leonard. The film marketed with the tagline "On his way up the corporate ladder, David Basner confronts his greatest challenge: his father."
Plot summary
The film is about happy-go-lucky ad-exec David Basner, who recently got a promotion at his Chicago ad agency. He is care-free until his parents split up after 36 years of marriage. Now, he must care for his aging bitter father Max, and be there for his emotionally-sensitive mother, Lorrane. To add insult to injury, Max has just been fired from his 35-year-long career as a children's clothing salesman.
Meanwhile at work, David is developing a commercial for Colonial Airlines, owned by Andrew Woolridge. A successful ad campaign would likely promote David to partner in his company. David develops a relationship with Woolridge's daughter, no-nonsense Cheryl Ann Wayne (played by Sela Ward), but it is just one of many failed attempts at connection - this is a trait that ties David and his father together.
But David's parents begin to rely more and more on him, calling him on the phone constantly. Lorrane, David's mother, finally has a date with another man, but becomes frightened when he tries to kiss her goodnight. David's mother then tells him that Max cheated on her and humiliated her. Enraged, David goes over to Max's apartment, and the two lose their tempers with each other. The argument ends as David says, "Tomorrow I'm shooting a commercial about a family who loves each other, who cares about each other. I'm fakin' it." and angrily slams the door.
The next day, David, thinking about the deteriorating relationship between him and his dad, loses his temper at the ad agency during the shooting. The director calms him down and he leaves. To make up for their argument, David offers to take Max to a nightclub. There, David accidentally discovers Max's secret, diabetes. His foot is gangrened and he has not informed anyone out of fear. Max must go to the hospital for surgery. At the hospital, he and Lorrane share their thoughts about their life together, with Lorrane condemning him for doing what he did to himself, and to her. The scene ends with Max sobbing over his mistakes during his marriage, finally showing weakness while he is alone in a hospital room.
Meanwhile at the agency, Andrew Woolridge wants David to go to New York with him to promote his commercial and the rest of the ad campaign. David refuses, saying he wants to stay with his sick father. Enraged, Woolridge complains that Basner doesn't need to stay with his father. David tells him off, and Woolridge fires him. The next day, David accompanies his dad for his surgery. While waiting for him, his boss assures him reluctantly that he will smooth things over with Woolridge, and that David should take some time off to be with his dad.
The film ends with David taking Max home from the hospital in a wheelchair, while Max admits to his son that "you were the last person I thought would come through for me."
Main cast
Television series
The movie inspired a short-lived NBC sitcom in 1987 that followed the highly-rated Cheers but its audience drop-off led to its cancellation. The series starred Todd Waring in the Hanks role and Bill Macy in Gleason's role. Waring later reprised another Hanks role in a TV sequel to Splash for The Wonderful World of Disney called Splash, Too.
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