Ember's analysis
- Pacing
- Measured
- Intensity
- Mild
- Complexity
- Easy to follow
- Violence
- None
- goofy
- morose
- awkward
- lazy weekend
- romantic comedy night
What critics said
Critics found the film intermittently likable and promising but uneven, with weak pacing, inconsistent tone, and insufficient payoff after its setup.
What sets it apart
May contain story progression spoilers
Larry's failed relationship, inability to tolerate solitude, and encounters with other single people drive the film's central comic premise.
Larry turns his experience as a single man into a book that unexpectedly becomes a bestseller.
The film repeatedly places shy Larry in morose, awkward, and self-deprecating situations while maintaining a comic register.
The Manhattan setting frames Larry's search for companionship amid crowded but emotionally disconnected urban life.
Films like The Lonely Guy, and why
Annie Hall
Shared romantic comedy framework, urban loneliness, and awkward male courtship.
Modern Romance
Shared themes of single life, emotional isolation, and witty but uneasy urban romance.
Maid in Manhattan
Shared 1980s romantic comedy tone, neurotic relationships, and Manhattan setting.
Movie Details
- Director
- Arthur Hiller
- Release Date
- 1984-01-27
- Runtime
- 90 min
- Rating
- 6.2 / 10 (158)
Cast
- Steve Martin
- Charles Grodin
- Judith Ivey
- Steve Lawrence
- Robyn Douglass
- Merv Griffin
- Joyce Brothers
- Candi Brough
- Randi Brough
- Julie Payne
Where to watch in United States
- Rent
- Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home
- Buy
- Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home
Streaming options come from TMDB and change over time.
Common questions
- What is The Lonely Guy about?
- A newly single Manhattan man turns his loneliness into literary fame while awkwardly pursuing a woman who initially wants nothing to do with him.
- What is The Lonely Guy like to watch?
- Ember's analysis rates the pacing of The Lonely Guy as measured, its intensity as mild and its storytelling as easy to follow.
- Is The Lonely Guy violent?
- No — Ember's analysis finds no violence in The Lonely Guy.
- What did critics think of The Lonely Guy?
- Critics found the film intermittently likable and promising but uneven, with weak pacing, inconsistent tone, and insufficient payoff after its setup.
- Which films are like The Lonely Guy?
- Films with a similar feel include Annie Hall, Modern Romance, and Maid in Manhattan.
- How long is The Lonely Guy?
- The Lonely Guy runs 90 minutes.
- Where can I watch The Lonely Guy?
- In United States, The Lonely Guy is available to rent or buy from Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home.
