The Families of Gary and Alana

In terms of the "background" to our non-lover lovers in Licorice Pizza, we get a little information about their families early on, but it is worth contemplating in terms of how the story moves along.

When they have their non-date date at Tail o the Cock early in the film, Alana asks Gary, "So where are your parents?" and he only answers about his MOTHER. "My mother works for me in my public relations firm." This response amuses Alana: "Of course. Your public relations firm, because you have THAT."

But Gary says nothing about his father, so we can figure that guy is gone. Single mother. And the boy made the family some money as a child actor. But the mother works for HIM. (I missed it if they said the mother had another job.)

In short, it would seem that Gary has his "old for his years" swagger and confidence because evidently he's the main breadwinner in his family, "the man of the house." (And with a little brother to watch over, too.)

We eventually see Alana's home(yes, its "The Real Haim Family"), and she has the full nuclear family: a mom, a dad, two sisters. In Alana's tirade after the bad Shabbat dinner, she references the mother and one sister as working real estate -- it looks like a successful home.
But Alana wants out of it (she tells her dad that her date who just left "would have taken me out of here!) And evidently, all the sisters still live at home.

So Alana's family life is "grounded," but Gary is on shakier family and financial ground -- particularly as he ages out of his child actor career.

These details rather drive the movie, I think. Too young(now) Gary may be for Alana, but he knows what he wants" : a successful career, businesses...and a wife he truly loves.