Nothing in Common

David Basner is a successful advertising executive whose easygoing, career-first life collapses when his parents announce they're ending a long marriage. He returns home to handle logistics and to look after his father, Max, an outgoing, stubborn man who isn't used to needing help. As David balances demanding clients and a tentative romance, buried grievances and old family patterns come up, forcing awkward conversations and small acts of care. The story follows the shifting terms of father and son life, mixing humor with tense moments as David figures out what loyalty and adulthood really mean in practice.

Released in 1986, the film was directed by Garry Marshall from an original screenplay by Rick Podell and Michael Preminger. It stars Tom Hanks and Jackie Gleason, with Eva Marie Saint, Hector Elizondo and Barry Corbin in key supporting parts.

At the box office the movie did respectably, drawing audiences with its blend of comedy and drama without becoming a runaway hit. Its theatrical run helped keep Garry Marshall in the mainstream and gave Tom Hanks a higher profile as a lead actor.

Critical reaction was mixed, reflected in a 5.8/10 average from viewers, with many reviewers praising the performances while noting uneven tone between laughs and more serious beats. The film looks at generational conflict, the responsibilities that come with aging parents, and the compromises people make between career ambition and family life, often moving between warmth and frustration.

The pairing of Hanks and Gleason made an impression, and Gleason's portrayal of Max earned attention as a strong late career role. The movie's frank, sometimes funny portrayal of adult children caring for their parents has kept it in conversations about 1980s family dramas, and it helped signal Hanks' capacity for roles that required emotional range beyond broad comedy.