The Lonely Guy (released in theaters on Jan. 27, 1984) is a unique entry in the Steve Martin filmography, bridging the gap between his wild, absurdist beginnings and the more sophisticated, vulnerable roles of his later career.
Directed by Arthur Hiller and based on the humorous guidebook by Bruce Jay Friedman, the film transforms the isolation of the newly single man into a stylized, almost operatic comedy.
It is a movie that treats loneliness not as a quiet tragedy, but as a bizarre, shared social condition, complete with its own rules, subcultures, and visual motifs—such as the infamous “cardboard cutouts” used to fill empty apartments.
Larry Hubbard (Martin) is a greeting card writer whose life is upended when he returns home to find his girlfriend in bed with another man.
Suddenly thrust into the terrifying world of the “lonely guy,” Larry struggles to navigate the social stigma of being single in New York City.
His guide through this desolate landscape is Warren Evans (Charles Grodin), a veteran of isolation who has turned loneliness into a neurotic art form.
Warren provides Larry with survival tips, ranging from how to eat alone in a crowded restaurant to the importance of owning a fern.
As Larry attempts to find love again, he becomes obsessed with Iris (Judith Ivey), a woman he meets repeatedly at various social gatherings, only to lose her through a series of comedic misunderstandings and his own crippling insecurity.
Along the way, Larry discovers that loneliness is a widespread epidemic, leading him to write a book that unexpectedly becomes a massive bestseller, turning him into a reluctant celebrity and a “guru” for the solitary.
However, despite his fame and newfound wealth, Larry realizes that material success is a poor substitute for genuine connection.
The narrative follows Larry’s slapstick and emotional journey toward self-acceptance, building to a grand, romantic gesture atop the Brooklyn Bridge, where he must convince Iris (and himself) that he is finally ready to stop being a lonely guy.
Robyn Douglass and Beau Starr round out the cast.
Merv Griffin, Dr. Joyce Brothers and Loni Anderson each have cameos as themselves.
Steve Martin and Charles Grodin in The Lonely Guy (Photo/Universal Pictures)
Reception for The Lonely Guy
The Lonely Guy grossed $2.1 million on its opening weekend, finishing fifth at the box office.
The film would gross $5.7 million in its theatrical run.
Legacy
The Lonely Guy is known for its masterful pairing of Martin and Grodin, whose chemistry created some of the most enduringly funny and pathetic moments in 80s comedy.
The film is celebrated for its screenplay, co-written by Neil Simon, which infuses the absurd premises with a sharp, literary wit and a surprising amount of heart.
The movie is also noted for its satirical take on self-help culture and the publishing industry, themes that remain remarkably relevant today.
