ONLY THE LONELY
A film review by Roger Snappy Rubio
Copyright 1991 Roger Snappy Rubio
ONLY THE LONELY Starring: John Candy, Maureen O'Hara, Ally Sheedy, Anthony Quinn, and James Belushi Produced by John Hughes and Hunt Lowry Written and Directed by Chris Columbus
This movie is the kind of movie you take a date to ... really funny and really romantic at the same time. It's advertised as a comedy, but it has all the elements of a good story: love, humor, romance, conflict, sentimentality, drama, and overall good fun. I would definitely recommend seeing this movie.
ONLY THE LONELY is the story of Danny (John Hughes), a Chicago cop who won't admit that his mother is running his life. His mother Rose (Maureen O'Hara) is a prejudiced, brash, and rather blunt woman who doesn't have any qualms about saying EXACTLY what she is thinking to anyone and everyone. Danny meets Theresa (Ally Sheedy), a rather introverted individual who is trying to break out of her own mold. They eventually fall in love, and that is something that Rose is not going to stand for, so she makes sure to try to break them up in her own sort of way. I won't ruin the rest of the story, but I assure you, it is worth seeing.
It looks like Hollywood is responding to the call of the people for more human stories instead of the shoot 'em up kill 'em all type of movie with nothing to offer except violence and bloodshed. ONLY THE LONELY certainly delivers with good performances, a good storyline, and for that matter, an ORIGINAL storyline. It's not completely original, but it does provide some refreshment amidst run-of-the-mill romances and comedies.
I always knew Chris Columbus was a good writer, and he didn't disappoint me with this movie, either. Chris Columbus is responsible (whether in whole or in part) for some really good celluloid; for example, he wrote the scripts for GREMLINS and YOUNG SHERLOCK HOLMES (which, in my humble opinion, is one of his best scripts), and he helmed the mega-hit HOME ALONE. John Hughes almost precedes himself nowadays. And even though his logo is on this film, it is really Columbus that deserves the credit.
John Candy is charismatic, funny, and a little vulnerable in this movie, which might make him as attractive as, say, Bill Murray. Bill Murray is not exactly the sexiest man alive, but it is his humor that makes him attractive to most women, and I think if John Candy keeps going the way he is going, he just might attain Murray's status as a comedian. Of course, everything Murray had to say that was funny was usually written for him, but let's stay optimistic now! Maureen O'Hara comes off as a slightly vicious character, compared to Ally Sheedy's shyness. James Belushi has a small part in this movie as Danny's partner in the police wagon business of picking up stiffs and criminals and hauling them away. He is constantly talking in some way about sex, whether advertently or inadvertently. Anthony Quinn plays a lonely, elderly bachelor hopelessly in love with Rose, and always attempting to gain her heart. All together, they make for an interesting entourage, and one well worth seeing.
To sum it all up: good writing, good directing, good acting, good story. What more could you want? Maybe a free pass to see it like I got, but it is worth paying your six or seven dollars or whatever you have to pay where you are to go see it. Take your boyfriend, girlfriend, wife, husband, best friend, family, whoever, and treat yourself to a good movie called ONLY THE LONELY. I'm pretty sure you'll like it.
THE SNAPMAN
rsnappy@hydra.unm.edu
(Roger Rubio)
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