History Film / TheBigChill

* NoodleImplements: The contents of everyone's suitcases as they unpack, but Michael takes the cake by unpacking several changes of underwear, a pile of condoms, and [[TheLastOfTheseIsNotLikeTheOthers two harmonicas]].

* TheLastOfTheseIsNotLikeTheOthers: Chloe is the lone member of the main cast who was not part of the circle of friends at the University of Michigan in the 60s, being the younger girlfriend of the late Alex.

** Nick is about to confide in Meg about what happened to him in Vietnam. A moment later, the scene cuts to the living room, where everyone hears a bloodcurdling scream - from Meg finding a bat in the attic.

A group of people who knew each other as college students and friends during TheSixties end up getting back together some 15 years later, after their friend Alex commits suicide. All of them had gone along their separate ways, but now have reason to look back and wonder where their idealism went -- as they're former campus radicals who, in TheEighties, have basically become [[BourgeoisBohemian yuppie establishment types]] suffering the angst of entering middle age in the Reagan era, [[LampshadeHanging lampshading]] the fact that, as one of them puts it, "No one had a cushier berth than we did". But along the way they renew their friendships, and sometimes even more, as they try to understand why Alex, with all of his potential, worked at menial jobs and then, for no apparent reason, decided to kill himself.

A group of people who knew each other as college students and friends during the 1960s end up getting back together some 15 years later, after their friend Alex commits suicide. All of them had gone along their separate ways, but now have reason to look back and wonder where their idealism went -- they were campus liberals who, in TheEighties, have basically become [[BourgeoisBohemian yuppie establishment types]] suffering the angst of entering middle age in the Reagan era, [[LampshadeHanging lampshading]] the fact that, as one of them puts it, "No one had a cushier berth than we did". But along the way they renew their friendships, and sometimes even more, as they try to understand why Alex, with all of his potential, worked at menial jobs and then, for no apparent reason, decided to kill himself.

* StealthPun: Harold's shoe shop is named "Running Dog". Doubles as SelfDepracation, as it's Harold poking fun at his own capitalist aspirations.

* StealthPun: Harold's shoe shop is named "Running Dog". Doubles as SelfDeprication, as it's Harold poking fun at his own capitalist aspirations.

* StealthPun: Harold's shoe shop is named "Running Dog". Doubles as a TakeThatMe, as it's Harold poking fun at his own capitalist aspirations.

* ADateWithRosiePalms:
** Implied by Chloe's admission to calling Nick's radio show when she was younger, worried that she was a pervert, and his advising her that it was okay as long as she kept up with her homework.
** Also discussed by Harold, Sam, and Nick while jogging:
-->'''Harold:''' I always thought masturbation was the ultimate act of self-absorption.
-->'''Sam:''' Do you jerk off?
-->'''Harold:''' Does a bear have fleas?
-->'''Sam:''' No, no, "Does a bear shit in the woods?"
-->'''Harold:''' Does a bear jerk off?
-->'''Nick:''' You know, I shit in the woods, but I can't jerk off.

** Averted with the late Alex, who, while fitting most of the characteristics of the trope, chose for reasons unknown to turn his back on his chosen academic field in favour of a string of random, unrewarding jobs.

* WeUsedToBeFriends: Although not as distant as most examples of this trope, the group are not as close as they were during their college days, with some tension between Sam and Michael as mentioned above. Discussed by Nick, who points out that 15 years prior they all "knew each other for a short while" and doesn't believe in overemphasizing such a brief connection.

* BaitAndSwitch: Nick is about to confide in Meg about what happened to him in Vietnam. A moment later, the scene cuts to the living room, where everyone hears a bloodcurdling scream - from Meg finding a bat in the attic.

-->'''Nick:''' Now it's a fair fight!

* RightBehindMe: Sam and Nick discuss their romantic/sexual history with Karen before going into the kitchen, where, unknown to them, Karen's husband Richard is making a sandwich. It's left unclear whether he overheard them.

* TradeYourPassionForGlory: None of the characters are living their youthful values, having cashed them in for steady, well-paying jobs. A fair bit of the film's angst is derived from this, especially when the characters consider themselves next to the late Alex, who turned down a prestigious research appointment that he felt would compromise his principles.

* JadedWashout: Nick is this in spades, between his inability to stick with a job long term, his cynicism, his drug use (and dealing), and his Vietnam War-induced inability to perform sexually.

* ComfortingTheWidow: Michael repeatedly tries (and fails) to get close to Chloe. Harold and Nick voice their disapproval.

* ADateWithRosiePalms: Implied by Chloe's admission to calling Nick's radio show when she was younger, worried that she was a pervert, and his advising her that it was okay as long as she kept up with her homework.

* IntimateHealing: It's implied that Chloe helped treat Nick's inability to perform.

* RightBehindMe: Sam and Nick discuss their romantic/sexual history with Nick before going into the Kitchen, where, unknown to them, Karen's husband Richard is making a sandwich. It's left unclear whether he overheard them.

* GoodPeopleHaveGoodSex: Many of the characters ([[spoiler:all but Michael]]) end up having sex with each other. Meg has considered getting pregnant, so [[spoiler:Sarah decides to lend Meg her husband, Harold, for this purpose (and also to balance the books for own infidelity years earlier)]].

* GoodAdulteryBadAdultery: Sarah and Alex's fling five years before the events of the film is portrayed in a sympathetic light, as is her offer of Harold to father Meg's baby. Compare them with Michael, whose attempts to cheat on his girlfriend are met with disapproval by Harold and Nick, and who is regarded by the women in the house as a borderline AbhorrentAdmirer. Zig-zagged with Sam and Karen.
* GoodPeopleHaveGoodSex: Many of the characters ([[spoiler: all but Michael]]) end up having sex with each other. Meg has considered getting pregnant, so [[spoiler:Sarah decides to lend Meg her husband, Harold, for this purpose (and also to balance the books for own infidelity years earlier)]].

* ShowerOfAngst: Sarah has one the evening after the funeral, likely inspired by both Alex's suicide and by her guilt over having an affair with Alex years before.