Tom Hanks’ ‘Nothing in Common’ is uncommonly good
When the resumes of Tom Hanks and filmmaker Garry Marshall are considered, “Nothing in Common” usually isn’t one of the first titles to come to mind. And that’s a shame.
Currently streaming on Crackle, the 1986 movie is equal parts comedy and drama – and it was an early indication of the performance depths Hanks could go to, since he generally was known just for providing laughs at that point. He plays a fast-rising star on the Chicago advertising scene, self-assured enough to harangue his boss (Marshallmovie regular Hector Elizondo) about being given a partnership at their firm.
Work-driven as he is, that’s where the focus of Hanks’ David Basner largely stays, until he suddenly has a personal crisis to deal with. His mother (a wonderful Eva Marie Saint) has walked out on his father (the ever-great Jackie Gleason, in his final role), as David is caught in the middle as he tries to tend to their separate needs. Mom is a lot happier with her new status than stubborn Dad, who always has had a strained relationship with David.
Back on the work front David is vying to land a major account that involves catering to another difficult fellow, an airline executive (“Northern Exposure’s” Barry Corbin) who has his supersharp daughter (Sela Ward) as his main counsel. She cleverly checks out Basner before he knows who she really is and her presence makes for some tricky moments he has with an old flame who has remained a close friend (a charming Bess Armstrong).