Textual Analysis Of The Movie Rudy

The script RUDY offers a concept with heart. While the premise is familiar, the script offers characters that the audience easily comes to care about. It never gets stale to watch an emotionally broken character learn how to find love again through the love of a child.
The script nicely explores the pain of being a foster kid, as well as exploring the hero’s past emotional pain, giving the protagonist more depth. The addition of the music industry keeps the premise fresh and modern. The script is well driven by strong themes about abandonment, connecting, and healing.
The script’s strength is the characters. Rudy offers a troubled, reckless, self-absorbed, flawed hero. At the same time he’s charming and interesting. Even though he’s flawed,

First, consider eliminating all the dreams. Opening a film with a dream, can immediately alienate an audience. Moreover, it’s not needed. This isn’t a story about Rudy who has premonitions about his life – it will distract the audience. Think of it this way, taking away the dreams, doesn’t change the story. One already understands that Rudy has inner turmoil.
The opening does do a nice job of establishing Rudy’s personality. He’s reckless, he’s arrogant, and he emotionally keeps to himself. The introduction of Bobby foreshadows the real story. But this is also where the structure begins to falter. Suddenly the story turns to the Carmen/Rudy story and to the Dexter/Joan story. Bobby is last scene on page 9 and Bobby’s story doesn’t pick up until page 22. It’s pivotal to focus on the real story vs. the side stories or subplots.
As the story progresses, it continues to be interrupted at times by the subplots. The audience wants more of the Rudy/Bobby story. The subplot about his business is also

He’s the opposite of Rudy. Dexter has his own arc; he grows from a person who faints around women to being a married man. The script skillfully contrasts Dexter against Rudy.
The script uses Dexter to show that Rudy’s commitment problem isn’t just with women. Rudy doesn’t remember Dexter’s name. It shows Rudy’s fear to get close to anyone.
Dialogue is another one of the strengths of this script. Subtext is well crafted. The voices sound believable and offer each character a unique voice. Even Bobby’s lack of dialogue is strong. The song she sings speaks volumes and it’s moving.
Rudy’s voice is direct and reveals his character. At first it’s odd that he calls men and women “babe.” Then we learn he does it to avoid closeness. “You’re invisible,” plays to his inner struggle and he’s own need to be invisible and/or wants others to be invisible. His habit of barking “today,” shows he’s impatient with people. Ironically, Rudy says that Bobby, “has issues. Can’t communicate. Anger problems…” yet he’s really describing one’s self. He lives in denial, “Look I’m not trying to get involved.”
On a small note, two characters use the term, “wizard.” The term “chop, chop” comes