I saw this movie in the theatre and thought it was hokie, that the plot was typical and unoriginal, the characters were typecast (Irish bar friends, etc down to the happy bicycling nuns). I saw it partly again on TV, and thought it was worse. I am surprised that it is so high ranked. A great and innovative movie like "Fallen" is ranked almost the same. WHY? Maybe because romantic comedies are reviewed by people who want to see their romantic comedies be just so.
shareYep, I think you answered your own question :)! I love to watch a feel-good movie when I'm in the mood even though I know it's hokie and predictable...
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I would not say this is a great movie by any of the "usual" standards for determining such things. I am not a critic, and have not studied film. I can definitely see the differences between this and Citizen Kane or Casablanca. On a personal level I just love this story. Beyond that, though, there are enough elements in it for me to say that it is a VERY good movie. First: it is true to itself. Everything in it contributes to where the story wants to go. While some of the characters may be called "cliched" by some, they serve their purpose and do not distract. Second: Oh my stars! Hollywood DOES know how to make a modern romance without sex. I always remember what my mother once said about movies in her day. "When two people fall in love, we knew what they would do. We didn't need to watch them doing it." For this one reason, I want to reward this movie a "ten". I am so tired of watching movie stars play tonsil-hockey and dry-hump each other. Third: The movie has a wonderful variety. Music, humour, sadness, crisis, sorrow, joy, fulfillment... and all in balance, nothing is overdone. Fourth: All of the characters show a human depth of emotions. I found myself believing in the reactions of them all, because they reacted in the ways that I think most people would.
shareVery well-put. I agree.
The first time I saw it, I thought it was just average, but every time I see it, it's more enjoyable.
FLR
i felt the same way spud-48...
the first time i saw the movie..it was so slow...
i cut it off...three months later watched it again....
and slapped myself for not watching it the first time!
I love this movie. I own a copy and I've watched it 6-7 times, plus the commentary. If you don't like it, that's fine. I probably don't like some of the movies that other people just love--for example, I didn't care much for the Matrix, though I like Keanu Reaves, and I thought Pirates of the Caribbean would never end, and I like Johnny Depp.
It's the type of movie that makes you wish there really were people like that--people who love each other, even when they're fussing and fighting.
Watch the outtake of the old men singing "Danny Boy."
Perfectly said Joanuakathryn
shareTotally with you. Vaguely interesting premise, then...so what?
shareWell, no one's saying it's Citizen Kane or Metropolis...
As romantic comedies go, though, this one is one of my favorites because it's an adult romance, not a silly, fluffy story. Easier to relate to some of the ache of the film, which most films of this genre skip. If you've ever lost someone or have gone through tragedy, this film has more substance than most romantic comedies, and may make more sense. It's a comedy, but one of hope through loss, and of family and roots.
The thing I love about it (and I'm surprised you say it's typecasting, because I rarely see it in film) is it's depiction of rooted "midwest" families and friends. I'm from this area and it's a very real depiction, esp. with older generations who have lived there for a long time. You really do not see it that often from Hollywood films. The guys aren't just a bunch of old guys in an Irish bar, they are a depiction of friends for life, do anything for you guys that actually exist (or use to). I've seen groups of older guys just like them in my own family and friends. My uncles were JUST like this and my cousins were like Belushi's character. I miss them SO much. I live in the mid-south now -- very different. Good people, but VERY different from those at home. I miss those guys at the bar, my Belushi cousins who would offer to punch a guy out for me if I needed it, etc. When Jim Belushi yelled "Good Night Nurse!" I laughed so hard I cried. It was just like my Uncle and cousins all over again. I think Bonnie Hunt is wonderful for many reasons -- one is that she is proud of her Chicago roots and brought these portrayals to the screen.
To me this is a love story for adults with heart and depth and a good dose of the way I wish things still could be with family. Great film.
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Agree with everything positive being said here. I just stayed up watching this movie after not seeing it for so many years but I still remembered being affected by it even at such a young age. I was once again delighted by the story, while heartbreaking ultimately it connected very deeply to my heart and has left me in an inspiring mood.
Though a simple story, you can't help but fall in love with the characters and I've always thought Minnie Driver was one of the most gorgeous women on the planet. Something about her look that just ignites a sort of passion in me. Great, heart warming movie that is really inspiring me to go out and find a love as true and tender as the one it so gracefully portrays.
"Everything is possible in the lots that lies ahead"
I guess it's not for everybody, but I really, really enjoyed and continue to enjoy this movie. We used to have a copy on VHS when I was younger and I remembered the movie fondly. I recently bought the DVD and watched it again and probably liked it even more. Laugh out loud hilarious and genuinely touching. But to each his own. I just think this is one of the very best as far as rom-coms go.
FYC: The Climb- Miley Cyrus- Best Original Song
There are many reasons why this movie has been so highly rated.
1) Performances that make us care about or laugh at the characters. There is one scene in the beginning that breaks my heart every time as Ducovney watches his wife being wheeled away. 100 emotions on his face all at one and not a word spoken is true acting. And the poker club guys and the best friend of Ducovney and those materialistic women in the restaurant.
2) This movie stays true to the rules of its own universe. There are no big character changes, no "what was that" moment. People are who they are and that doesn't change.
3) No hokey movie music and no hokey "being together" scenes that have no meaning to the story we are seeing. What am I talking about? The ice skating scene in Raising Helen and the motorcycle scene in How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days, both starring Kate Hudson.
4) Great soundtrack featuring standards but not all by Sinatra.
5) Similar to Moonstruck in that Return To Me perfectly captures a certain segment of a certain population of a certain city.
If I missed something, will people please let me know?
Interesting you would mention "Moonstruck".
That story is just as "Hokey" but, it is directed with a finer touch... and played to perfection by Cage and Cher. Both films have very talented supporting casts, the writing and direction of Moonstruck is simply far more polished.
"Return" is just a little too sugar sweet to rate as high as Moonstruck. The supporting roles are not deep enough and there are too many of them (maybe that is why). Driver and Duchovny do a good job and give the movie the substance it needs to hang together in spite of frequent imperfections.
Have to be gentle in the criticism as Bonnie Hunt (Director) is also a solid actress and comedienne. So, that's a lot of talent in one person.
Also, I've watched it at least 3 times so....
Some excellent, thoughtful responses.
This movie just... gets to me. It hits the usual romantic chords, sure, but it does so with unusually subtle depth, maturity, and character consistency, all brought to life via some wonderful, engaging performances.
When my fellow males go on their romantic comedy rage rants, I point this little film out to them and laugh derisively, secure that my masculine mystique is still intact. That's how good this one is.
I would certainly consider this one of the superior romantic-comedies, containing genuine warmth and depth. A quick look around sees this 6.7 rating ties it with Sleepless In Seattle, which I can see, just ahead of 6.5 While You Were Sleeping(another comparable film), and ahead again of 6.3 You've Got Mail(which if that is 6.3, the other films should come in at least 7.3 IMO). The first two other movies that came to mind to check were I, Robot(7.0), which I certainly did not feel had the believable characters, but did have $50 million bucks worth of SFX, then I tried Real Steel, which I thought had more believable heart, it comes in at 7.2. The problem is, if you take away the special effects, suddenly those movies would be rated 3.0 or lower, am I wrong?? These kinds of romantic comedies, when done write, require excellent acting and writing, because they can't hide behind CGI, for that reason alone I would consider the rating of Return To Me too low. Add in that I watch it 2-3 times a year, and it never fails to hold my attention, and I would say the ranking is far too low, would personally give it about 8.5, though a part of me would love to rank it even higher. For the record, I am a straight male, 39, unmarried, athletic and geeky, should anyone wish to take pot shots at me for having a sensitive side :)
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