¶ … emotionally touching insight into the various manifestations of love. Although gender differences are certainly highlighted in the film, generational differences become one of the film's main themes. Harry Sanborn (Jack Nicholson) and Erica Barry (Dianne Keaton) are older adults whose views towards relationships are contrasted with those of the younger generation. Marin Barry (Amanda Peet) and Dr. Julian Mercer (Keanu Reeves) offer insight into how younger generations view sex, love, marriage, and family. Ultimately, Something's Gotta Give reveals more similarities than differences between the generations.
Jack Nicholson's character Harry is somewhat of a stereotype: he is a playboy, a womanizer, and a bachelor who has reached his golden years without being fettered by marriage. As if it helps him to stave off old age, Harry dates younger women almost exclusively. Harry's being in the music business keeps him hip enough to meet and socialize with young and attractive females. Yet it is his money, status, and power that truly enable Harry to cultivate frequent and shallow relationships with women who are half his age.
Harry's attitudes towards love, sex, and relationships are shaped in part by his views about women and gender roles. Relationships offer little attraction for Harry because he views them as symbols of lost masculinity. In one scene, Harry swells with pride as he walks through a restaurant with a young blonde while looking at other men his age with disdain. Harry clearly views sex as a key to social status and not as a means to cultivate emotional intimacy; until he meets Erica.
Harry is in part shown to be a product of his generation. Young men like Julian Mercer are contrasted quite sharply with Harry because gender roles and norms have shifted. Julian sometimes finds Harry's views towards women outmoded, and is quite surprised when he first hears Harry talk about Erica. Ironically, Julian is attracted to Erica whereas Harry is at first put off by her advanced years. Harry states to Julian one day, "I've never seen a woman that age topless before." Julian is surprised, given that Harry is older than Erica.
The prejudices Harry fosters towards older women are due more to his personality than to his age, though. Harry has never allowed himself to cultivate emotional intimacy because doing so represented the death of his virility and masculinity. After the heart attack, Harry naturally came more to terms with his age. On a symbolic level, the heart attack signaled Harry's heart yearning for meaning in relationship. Prior to meeting Erica, all of Harry's relationships were solipsistic.
As Harry falls in love with Erica, he softens and his heart opens. Love is a transformative power, and the film highlights different types of love at different stages of life. Harry comes to realize the difference between shallow relationships cultivated for status and egotistical purposes and the depth of intimacy he can experience with someone like Erica.
You’re 82% through this paper. Sign up to read the full paper.
Sign Up Now — Instant Access Already a member? Log inAlways verify citation format against your institution’s current style guide requirements.