Punchline (1988)

Director:

David Seltzer

Writer:

David Seltzer (written by)

Release Date:

7 October 1988 (USA)

Genre:

Comedy | Drama | Romance

Tagline:

It only hurts when you LAUGH!

Plot:

Steven Gold is a stand-up comedian who is flat broke and has recently dropped out of medical school...

Plot Keywords:

Comedian | Stand Up Comedian | Housewife | One Word Title | Stand Up Comedy

Awards:

1 win

Cast

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

Runtime:

128 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby

Certification:

Finland:S | Canada:14A (Ontario) | Australia:M | Iceland:L | South Korea:15 | Norway:10 | Sweden:Btl | UK:15 | USA:R | West Germany:12 (w)

Company:

Columbia Pictures Corporation

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.

Quotes:

Madeline Urie: Is - is this a joke?

Movie Connections:

References "The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson" (1962)

Soundtrack:

Remember Tonight and Smile

Quite Memorable, But Gut-Wrenching At Times

Memorable.....but bad memories outweigh good, at least for me, with this movie.

That's my recollection of this film which, frankly, I haven't seen in over a decade. However, this movie left some indelible impressions in my sensitive memory, and perhaps I'll re-visit it again one day.

Tom Hanks was mesmerizing as the haunted comedian, a man with a lot of talent to make people laugh but a guy tormented by the lack of support from his father. There is a scene or two in here with this dad that is so uncomfortable to watch that it has prevented me from seeing this another time.

Too bad, because I do remember some wonderful, funny scenes such as Hanks in the hospital entertaining the patients. Sally Field also gives a touching performance as a housewife trying to break into the business, and John Goodman is likable as her husband.

An interesting film with very emotional scenes you won't forget. It's almost too much for me, for some reason.