The following contains spoilers for Here, now playing in theatersHerefeatures the invention of the La-Z-Boy as a plot point, but it takes some certain liberties with the true story.Heretakes place over a lengthy period of time, exploring the stories of the various people (and some animals) who’ve lived in a certain space on Earth. Much of the film takes place in the 20th century, changing ownership multiple times over the century. Most of the film is centered around Tom Hanks and Robin Wright’s Youngs (thanks in part toHere’s de-aging technology). However, the story extends beyond the Youngs and their time in the abode.
Here’s cast of charactersis fleshed out by several other smaller stories, focusing on the other families who occupied that space before and after the Youngs. One of the most entertaining is the Bleekmans, a happy married couple who end up beingcrucial to the invention of a famous piece of American furniture, the La-Z-Boy recliner. However, similar to director Robert Zemekis' other films focused on reexamining the past, the filmmakers introduce some wrinkles to the true story. Here is howHere’s La-Z-Boy story compares to real life.
The La-Z-Boy Was Created By Edward M. Knabusch & Edwin J. Shoemaker
Here’s La-Z-Boy Story Doesn’t Have The Real Creators Of The Chair
There are some broad stroke elements thatHere’s version of the La-Z-Boy’s invention shares with the true La-Z-Boy,but the film ultimately changed the inventors of the La-Z-Boy to fit into the film’s narrative. The La-Z-Boy was invented in 1927 by Edward Knabusch and Edwin Shoemaker. A pair of cousins from Michigan, the pair experimented with a reclining chair and eventually upholstered the piece to make it ideal for comfort. This places the creation of the chair multiple states over from the site of its creation inHere, which takes place closer to the East Coast.
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The success of the chair led to an entire company dedicated to designing and selling various home furniture. Despite the ups and downs of the market, the La-Z-Boy chairs have become a consistent reference point for American culture and has been sold around the globe. In a sense, the origin of the company matches the average invention portrayed inHere. However,Hereapproaches the story with a completely different inventor.
The La-Z-Boy’s Story In Here Explained
Lee Bleekman Invents The La-Z-Boy InHere
InHere, one of the subplots glimpsed through the film’s non-linear narrative is focused on the Beekmans' and their invention of the La-Z-Boy. Lee and Stella Bleekman are a young married couple who own the central house inHerebefore the Young family purchases it. The two are portrayed as deeply in love during the 1920s and 30s, in direct contrast to the somber former owners and their more three-dimensional successors. Throughout their appearances,Lee is shown working on a chair that he believes will revolutionize relaxation. This eventually becomes a prototype lounge chair.
Stella Bleekman
Ophelia Lovibond
After a successful pitch meeting with a visiting manufacturer, Lee is able to successfully strike a deal with the company. Overtly coinciding with the rising marketplace for televisions, dubbing the chair the La-Z-Boy. Lee and Stella exit the film on a largely positive note, overjoyed at their good fortune. While the general time period is the same, the actual inventor of the La-Z-Boy is reimagined as romantic amid a very happy marriage.It fits the Beekmans intoHere’s narrative as a largely positive counterpointto the more dramatic life events depicted elsewhere, but it does fail to reflect actual history.
How Here Changes The La-Z-Boy’s True Story & Origin
HereUses The La-Z-Boy’s Creation As Sweet Comic Relief
Heretakes the idea of the La-Z-Boy and twists it into a way that allows it imbue more 20th century culture into the film. Much of the movie is focused on that era of history, especially with the Young family at the center.The La-Z-Boy plot doesn’t feel out of place in the film narratively. The Bleeman’s invention and romance the comic relief of the film, with a sweet sense of affection pervading Fyn and Lovibond’s scenes together. It’s similar to the wayRobert Zemeckis and Tom Hanks' previous collabrationForrest Gumpreworked cultural events to fit Forrest into history.
Some details of the real life invention of the La-Z-Boy do filter intoHere’s invention. In both real life and the film, the La-Z-Boy wasn’t the original name for the chair. A running gag inHeresees Lee toying with a few ideas before happily accepting the title from the company. In real life, a local contest was held after the early success of the chair, leading to the name. It’s the latest example of Robert Zemekis finding a way to use real life as the inspiration for character beats and storylines in films likeHere.
Here
Cast
Here is an objective and formal description for the movie Here (2024): Directed by Robert Zemeckis, this film is an exploration of time and memory, unraveling the intertwined lives and stories of families across generations in a New England setting.
