The film's theme song, "If Ever I See You Again", was a moderate hit for Roberta Flack, reaching #24 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart.

Bob Morrison is a successful composer of TV commercial jingles who has become rich from his work, allowing him to make a good life in New York City for himself and his two young children.

Bob secretly envies his old friend David, who has lived in relative poverty for years while pursuing a career as a classical pianist.

David's sacrifices are now starting to pay off with a concert at Carnegie Hall, and he is also happily married, while Bob has been a widower for some years (the death of his wife is strongly implied, although not shown or stated directly).

Back in New York just before Christmas, Bob's frustrations lead him to decide with his partner Steve Warner to close down their jingle-writing business, thus putting Mario out of a job.

As she drives away, Bob learns that he got the film score job and that he will even be able to work from New York City as he prefers, meaning that he will not be returning to California.

[5] In addition to producing, co-writing, directing and scoring the film, Brooks also decided to play the leading role of "Bob Morrison" himself.

Jerry Keller and Kenny Karen were former pop musicians turned jingle creators who had worked with Brooks in the past.

Keller's film experience consisted of a bit part in You Light Up My Life as an orchestra music director.

Shelley Hack was then a model best known for appearing in a television commercial for Revlon's "Charlie" fragrance, who had a two-line part in Woody Allen's acclaimed film Annie Hall.

[4][11][12] An editor of Minicomputer News and his secretary posed as former lovers attempting to locate each other to test the service, with somewhat unsuccessful results.

Prior to the film's release, Brooks arranged for Debby Boone, who in the preceding months had achieved blockbuster success with her debut solo single: her rendition of the theme song from Brooks' first film production You Light Up My Life, to record versions of the title theme "If Ever I See You Again", "California", "Come Share My Love", "It Was Such a Good Day", and "When It's Over".

[3] According to Flack, she "couldn't stand" the song and agreed to record it only after being pressured by the president of Atlantic and negotiating a "huge money deal".

[19][20][22] Breslin and the film were nominated in Harry and Michael Medved's 1980 book The Golden Turkey Awards in the category "Worst Acting Performance by a Novelist".

[26] When the Stinkers Ballot Expansion Project launched in 2003, the movie received the following notes: The film's reputation did not improve with time.