Danny (John Candy) is a Chicago cop who lives with his controlling Irish mother, Rose (Maureen O’Hara). When he meets Theresa (Ally Sheedy), an introverted funeral home worker, Danny believes he’s found The One. But Rose is used to having Danny under her thumb and immediately disapproves of Theresa. Danny has trouble pushing back against his mother’s bad, often racist, behavior, which jeopardizes his relationship.
This was my first time watching! I’ve always been a fan of John Candy, and I saw that John Hughes produced this film, so it seemed like a no-brainer to give it a go. There’s something weirdly nostalgic and cozy about comedies from the 1980s to the early 1990s. There’s something so simplistic and enjoyable about them, and Only the Lonely is no different.
The premise is very straightforward: a bachelor finds love but must somehow cope with his overbearing mother. It’s not an original movie formula, but with Chris Columbus behind the camera and a talented cast in front, it’s executed well and makes for an entertaining film.
I thought John Candy was a wonderful choice for Danny. He hits all the right comedic notes when acting opposite both Maureen O’Hara – in her last film role before she died in 2015 – and Ally Sheedy. Danny’s an all-around nice guy who is often taken advantage of by his mother, Rose, and his brother Patrick (Kevin Dunn).
When he finally finds a connection with the lovely Theresa, Danny struggles to put their relationship first, thanks to several manipulative guilt trips from his family. Danny suffers from fantasies of his mother meeting a dastardly end, thanks to his “selfishness” for wanting to date Theresa, which is amusing to watch. I have a feeling many people who can’t seem to cut the umbilical cords from their mothers can relate to it.
Candy and Sheedy have a very sweet chemistry on screen. Sheedy’s Theresa is severely introverted and has to learn how to speak up and stand up for herself, especially when faced with Rose’s deprecating attitude. She doesn’t let Rose push her around, nor is she willing to settle for a husband who will always put his mother first. Danny and Theresa are good for one another, and you want to see them overcome their issues. I appreciated that their Dark Moment felt believable. I wonder how many romances have ended because of family conflict.
James Belushi plays Sal, Danny’s fellow officer and best friend. I’m sure there are plenty of films with Beushi that I haven’t seen yet, but why is he always the sleaziest best friend? Sal is the stereotypical married best friend to Danny, who tries to talk him out of finding love because marriage is so miserable, sex with his wife is boring, blah, blah, blah. He’s probably the only part of the movie I disliked, though he did have a couple of amusing moments.
I enjoyed Only the Lonely and found it to be both funny and romantic. It’s perhaps not as soon as some other Chris Columbus/John Hughes productions and may be forgettable in the long run, but it’s worth a watch, especially around this time of year!
Watched: 11/03/2023
Notable Song: Only the Lonely by Roy Orbison
