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Punchline (1988)
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Overview
User Rating:
Release Date:
7 October 1988 (USA) moreTagline:
It only hurts when you LAUGH! morePlot:
Steven Gold is a stand-up comedian who is flat broke and has recently dropped out of medical school... more | add synopsisAwards:
1 win moreUser Comments:
Made by people with no sense of humor... moreCast
(Cast overview, first billed only)| Sally Field | ... | Lilah Krytsick | |
| Tom Hanks | ... | Steven Gold | |
| John Goodman | ... | John Krytsick | |
| Mark Rydell | ... | Romeo | |
| Kim Greist | ... | Madeline Urie | |
| Paul Mazursky | ... | Arnold | |
| Pam Matteson | ... | Utica Blake | |
| George McGrath | ... | Singing Nun (as George Michael McGrath) | |
| Taylor Negron | ... | Albert Emperato | |
| Barry Neikrug | ... | Krug | |
| Ángel Salazar | ... | Rico (as Angel Salazar) | |
| Damon Wayans | ... | Percy | |
| Joycee Katz | ... | Joycee | |
| Mac Robbins | ... | Billy Lane | |
| Max Alexander | ... | Mister Ball |
Additional Details
Parents Guide:
Add content advisory for parentsRuntime:
128 minCountry:
USALanguage:
EnglishColor:
ColorAspect Ratio:
1.85 : 1 moreSound Mix:
DolbyCertification:
Finland:S | Canada:14A (Ontario) | Australia:M | Iceland:L | South Korea:15 | Norway:10 | Sweden:Btl | UK:15 | USA:R | West Germany:12 (w)Fun Stuff
Trivia:
Both Tom Hanks and Sally Field did stand-up routines in comedy clubs to prepare for this film. Stand-up comedian Susie Essman and comedy writer Dottie Archibald coached Field for her role. Archibald also served as consultant for the film, recruiting real stand-up comedians to appear in the film. Hanks enlisted stand-up comedian Barry Sobel and comedy writer Randy Fechter to help write his routine. One night, a young, up-and-coming Chris Rock shared a set with Hanks, and has stated since that Hanks was the funniest stand-up he had ever seen. moreSoundtrack:
Remember Tonight and Smile moreFAQ
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A 'dramedy' about stand-up comedy written and directed by David Seltzer, who shows no wistfulness or whimsy for show-biz--for him, it's all about the anxiety of getting a performance right. Tom Hanks has acting talent to spare, yet he does not possess the right timing to be convincing as a stand-up comic (he's all fired up, but he's firing blanks). Sally Field fares somewhat better as a housewife/amateur comedienne who looks to Tom for advice and finds herself a little smitten; her routine on-stage isn't convincing either, but Field's gumshun saves her (she's likable despite the character being a cut-out). John Goodman (as Field's husband) has made a career out of playing down-to-earth, amiable guys; though he's unable to really shine with this shallow material, his low-keyed, self-effacing acting style brings out the best in Seltzer's formulaic impulses--he's the most pleasant part of the film. The writing is so purposefully sour, one squirms through the jokes as much as through the drama. The movie's main purpose is to show us the dark side of comedy...but who wants to see that? *1/2 from ****