Garp: More Than Just Absurdity, Right?

Okay, so I finally revisited "The World According to Garp" after... well, way too long. And I'm struck by how much more there is to it than just the chaotic energy everyone seems to remember. Sure, the tonal whiplash is insane. You've got slapstick bordering on parody right next to genuinely devastating emotional scenes. But I'm starting to think that's the point. Hear me out: I think the film, like the book, is ultimately about the impossibility of control in a world defined by randomness. Garp's desperately trying to create order – in his writing, in his relationships, even in his own self-perception. But life, as represented by everything from the plane crash to Helen Holm's…ahem…enthusiasm, keeps throwing curveballs. It's almost a metafictional commentary on the creative process itself. Garp's trying to control his narrative, but the world keeps rewriting it for him. That scene where he finally confronts his fear of death by writing it out? Powerful stuff, and totally undercuts the supposed "comedic" tone. And then there's Jenny Fields. Williams absolutely nails the performance, but I used to see her as just a figure of comic relief. Now, though, I think she's crucial to understanding the film's core themes. Her radical feminism, viewed by some as extreme, is another attempt to assert control over a world perceived as inherently unfair to women. She's reacting to the same chaos as Garp, just from a different perspective. That scene in the hospital, after Garp Jr. is mutilated? Jenny's cold pragmatism is horrifying, but you kind of get it. Maybe. I'm not saying it's perfect. The pacing is still wonky, and some of the humor hasn't aged well (the dog comes to mind...). But underneath the layers of absurdity and shock value, I think there’s genuine commentary on the human condition. What does it mean to craft your life, and to face the inevitable chaos of the world? And does wanting control become a form of control itself? Still turning that around in my head.