He had a development deal with the movie division of ABC.
Inside, Steven is declared the winner of the show, which reflects Lilah's judgment and that of their competing fellow comics.ĭavid Seltzer wrote the first draft for Punchline in 1979 after becoming fascinated by comedy clubs while looking for someone to play a psychiatrist on a television pilot that he was writing. The pair walk away arm in arm reminiscing about the funny and endearing sayings of their children. She leaves with her husband who, after watching his wife do stand-up for the first time, is won over and begins suggesting ideas for her next set. Pending the judges' final tally, with a note of support from her husband in her hand, and hearing Steven has only two of the five judges' votes, Lilah withdraws "in case the winner is me" and persists in leaving when the club owner reveals she was in fact the winner. As they compete on stage, the characters also grapple with conflicts among their desires for success on stage, their loyalties to one another, and the expectations of their families. A judges panel of television executives promise the winner a prime time opportunity and possible stardom. The film culminates in a competition at the "Gas Station" comedy club where Steven, Lilah and other aspiring comedians have been performing. Steven mimes a painful rendition of Gene Kelly's famous dance routine from Singin' in the Rain. Lilah struggles to remain loyal to her family and her friend, while maintaining her conviction and love of comedy. Steven, beginning to appear emotionally unstable, develops a romantic attraction to Lilah–to her dismay. his inability to do so and Lilah's love of comedy vs. An uneasy friendship develops between the two as they share the personal conflicts they must resolve: Steven's desire to make it big vs. Lilah discovers her natural gift of making people laugh. Steven advises her to connect with the audience to unveil the honest humor in her life as a wife and mother. Lilah has spent her cookie jar money to buy jokes. Lilah's unfailing support wins Steven's affections and he teaches her the fundamentals of stand-up comedy. Steven is derailed by the unexpected appearance of his father and brother, both medical professionals. She has the raw talent but does not have the command of craft that Steven possesses.Īt first, he doesn't give Lilah the time of day. Lilah is a dedicated housewife who yearns to be a comic. And yet, when he is given a chance at the big time, he cracks under the pressure. It quickly becomes evident that he is lousy at the former and excels at the latter. Steven Gold is a struggling medical student who moonlights as a stand-up comedian. It received generally mixed reviews and has a 60% approval rating based on 20 votes on Rotten Tomatoes. It grossed $21.0 million in the United States and Canada, against a budget of $15 million.
Rachmil and was released on October 7, 1988. The film was produced by Daniel Melnick and Michael I. It stars Sally Field, Tom Hanks, John Goodman, and Mark Rydell. Its story follows a talented young comic as he helps a housewife who wants to break into stand-up comedy. Punchline is a 1988 American comedy-drama film written and directed by David Seltzer and distributed by Columbia Pictures.
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