Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #52691 in DVD
• Released on: 2004-06-14
• Rating: Suitable for 15 years and over
• Aspect ratio: 1.85:1
• Number of discs: 1
• Formats: PAL, Widescreen
• Original language: English
• Subtitled in: Arabic, Bulgarian, Czech, Danish, Dutch, English, Finnish, French, German, Greek, Hebrew, Hindi, Hungarian, Icelandic, Italian, Norwegian, Polish, Portuguese, Spanish, Swedish, Turkish
• Number of discs: 1
• Running time: 117 minutes

Amazon.co.uk Review
At the height of the stand-up comedy boom of the 1980s, Punchline offered the revelation that many comedians were, in fact, rather psychologically unstable individuals for whom performing was an outlet for hostility and aggression. Wow--who would have guessed? This film focuses on two who meet and forge an unlikely friendship: Tom Hanks plays a caustic, self-destructive comic looking for his big break and Sally Field plays a more Roseanne-like comedian who begins neglecting her husband (John Goodman) and children because she gets such a kick out of performing. The offstage stuff is strictly soap opera, but Hanks and Field both develop solid comedic rhythms once they get behind a microphone. --Marshall Fine, Amazon.com

DVD Description
Feature Length: 118 mins Approx
Aspect ratio: 1.85:1
Enhanced for 16:9 widescreen TVs
Audio: Dolby Digital Surround Language: English, French, German, Italian and Spanish
Subtitles: Arabic, Bulgarian, Czech, Danish, English, Finnish, French, German, Greek, Hebrew, Hindi, Hungarian, Icelandic, Italian, Norwegian, Polish, Portuguese, Spanish, Swedish, Turkish
Colour

Synopsis
Lilah Krytsick (Sally Field) is a New Jersey housewife and mother of three who has been told all her life that she is funny. Steven Gold (Tom Hanks) is a failed medical student whose natural comedic talent has allowed him to steal the spotlight at New York comedy club the Gas Station, thus keeping him from focusing on the other failures in his life. Lilah decides to follow her dreams and try her luck on the Gas Station stage, but her act falls flat. When she strikes up a friendship with bitter Steven, he helps her sharpen her comedy while she attempts to help him pull his chaotic life together. This unique comedy/drama features a strong supporting cast including John Goodman, Damon Wayans, and Paul Mazursky.

Customer Reviews

how real can a film be?
I am proud to have this in my collection even though I would only watch it every five years. This is gritty in the sense of realism with touching humour in the character's day to day lives and struggles. A real joy to watch Sally Field and Tom Hanks in their characters, and Field's home life can be related to by many I am sure!