MovieChat Forums > Something Wild (1986) Discussion > Lost it in the Ending

Lost it in the Ending

posted 12 years ago by lexusis
2 replies | jump to latest

Just watched this movie for the first time. I really liked it and I honestly didn't think I was going to...

But the ending kind of confused me somewhat. Why does he quit his job? What happened to Melanie after she was taken away by the police? Whose wood paneled antique car was that they drove off in? Was there no mention of the armed robbery where they hurt the cashier?

Just so many things that were never tied up!

A couple of random thoughts:

1. When the cop was towing their first car, Jeff Daniels says "the restaurant must have gotten the license plate"... So if that were true, wouldn't the cop have also had a description of the two that ran out on the cheque?

2. I never realized how HOT Jeff Daniels was until I saw this movie! Wow.
Especially at the end when he's in that plaid shirt and the tie and gray pants! So 80s.

[–] coolbrett 12 years ago

yeah I was wondering about the armed robbery too. I guess it's one of those movies where you're not supposed to think too much about things like that. Just take it as it is. I'm a little confused as to why LuLu lost her character as soon as she went to the reunion with Charlie. Before that she seemed like a totally different person. I think it's because of a combination of poor acting and poor writing.

No expectations, no disappointments.

[–] lightningcows 12 years ago

I get the feeling that charlie discovers a new calling in life at the end, which is why he quits his job. He "played it safe" for most of his life, rising in his current corporate job, getting a house in the suburbs, and using a plain old station-wagon car. The most "risk" that he ever took was not paying the restaurant bill from time to time, and investing in municipal bonds. But after meeting Lulu, he undergoes a transformation.

Not sure what happened with Melanie, but looks like she also went through a change as well. My guess that Charlie had a calming effect on her. Her conservative, almost respectable dress and car, indicates that she may have left her wilder days behind her. Not sure where the wood-paneled car came from. It is possible that she may have bought it used. She had wads of cash where they were buying that used car with the word "bargain" on the side.

As far the restaurant check, I think Charlie was only guessing that the restaurant may have actually took the plate numbers; it is very likely that they didn't.