Nothing in Common

1986
PG
1h 58m

IMDb RATING

5.9/10

8.2K

YOUR RATING

Tom Hanks, Sela Ward, Bess Armstrong, Hector Elizondo, Jackie Gleason, and Eva Marie Saint in Nothing in Common (1986)

Play trailer2:56

3 Videos

34 Photos

Comedy Drama Romance

A successful advertising executive finds his freewheeling life crashing to a halt when his parents end their longtime marriage.A successful advertising executive finds his freewheeling life crashing to a halt when his parents end their longtime marriage.A successful advertising executive finds his freewheeling life crashing to a halt when his parents end their longtime marriage.

See production info at IMDbPro

IMDb RATING

5.9/10

8.2K

YOUR RATING

See production info at IMDbPro

Awards
- 1 nomination total

Videos3

Nothing In Common: You're Pretty Cocky

Photos34

+ 28

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Storyline

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Did you know

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Trivia
Rumor has it that director Garry Marshall would not go ahead with the making of this film without the inclusion of Jackie Gleason. In poor health, Gleason had grown tired of filmmaking, and wished to retire from the business. After several attempts to get him on board, Marshall finally called Gleason on the phone and insisted that if he didn't do this film, that the last film he would be remembered for was the box-office bomb Smokey and the Bandit Part 3 (1983). Gleason immediately accepted the offer on the condition that this would be his last acting role. In Marshall's 2012 memoir, "My Happy Days in Hollywood," he credits Ray Stark with asking Gleason the question about if he wanted "Smokey and the Bandit 3" being how he would be remembered.

Goofs
David (Tom Hanks) throws a ball against the wall in his apartment repeatedly, catching it and throwing it again. On the last throw, he tries but misses the catch and a crew member's arm quickly enters the shot and catches the ball for him.

Quotes
[last lines]
Max Basner: [to David] You're the last person I ever thought would come through for me.

Alternate versions
One "unedited" print, formerly in HBO's library, removes the exchange between Max and David about their "best friends."

Connections
Featured in At the Movies: Out of Bounds/Belizaire the Cajun/Heartburn/Hard Choices (1986)

Soundtracks
Nothing In Common
Written by Tom Bailey and Alannah Currie
Performed by Thompson Twins

User reviews50

Review

Featured review

The First Film That Really Showed Tom Hanks' Unlimited Potential

Tom Hanks had been around for a few years before "Nothing in Common", but it was this film that really showed how great he could be as an actor. He stars as a high-class advertising executive whose life is turned upside down when his elderly parents (Jackie Gleason and Eva Marie Saint) get divorced. While Saint adjusts and becomes happy with her life, it seems that Gleason just becomes more angry. On top of this, his health quickly worsens. While Hanks is working with Barry Corbin and daughter Sela Ward on a big advertising deal, it seems that Gleason's diabetic condition is becoming a real problem. Gleason has basically upset everyone so much that everyone has given up on him and do not even know about his condition. Hanks proves to be the only one that Gleason can count on in the end. The relationship between Hanks and Gleason makes "Nothing in Common" a somewhat forgotten treasure from the 1980s. Tom Hanks proved that he could handle delicate material and even mix it with smart comedy. All the players are great as well. Along with all the aforementioned actors, Hector Elizondo and Bess Armstrong do good work as well. The screenplay is solid and the direction is focused throughout. 4 stars out of 5.