Return to Me (2000)

Return to Me

This movie is wonderful. All the actors are very good in this movie. It is heartwarming. October 31, 2008

HEARTFELT

This movie was recommended to me and it was the best romance drama that I have ever seen. It had me crying, & laughing. I watched it 4 times in 2 days.

I loved it!!! October 8, 2008

Quirky love story

I admit, this is not the usual type of romantic comedy. And that is just what appealed to me. For how could something as taboo as discussing a heart transplant translate to romantic comedy? It does, through an incredibly sweet story.

David Duchovney plays an architect who has lost the only woman he has ever loved. Minnie Driver is a sheltered waitress who receives the dead wife's heart. A year later, they meet, and sparks fly in spite of the heartbreaking secret.

But this is not a drama in any sense of the word. This is a story about life and love and human bonds. The romance is believable yet storybook smooth, without any true angst to put a damper on the light humor.

Even so, this is the kind of movie that may require tissues. But there is plenty of Irish and Italian chaos to bring back smiles. September 27, 2008

Not just a chick flick

My son brought his DVD collection home from his stint in the military and took this movie out to cheer me one day. I'm not enthusiastic about movies with a medical theme especially not dying patients (I was a nurse and my husband is a surgeon) but he assured me that it was uplifting and not too dark and dire.

Three cheers for Bonny Hunt. What a smash hit! I've always loved her acting style but here she does everything but run the catering truck. Music production, directing, and a zillion other things. There are about a half dozen Hunts in the credits so I'm assuming she has a terrific and talented family to fall back on.

The necessary drama involved with heart transplantation is handled with a light and spiritual hand. I loved the song played over the transposition of a deeply grieving husband and the transfer of his beloved wife's heart. Something about an angel and very beautifully scored.

Minnie Driver is aces especially playing along side Bonny Hunt. The two showed real family style confidence and love with a generous dose of witty humor. The stricken Driver is shown pale faced and drawn, gasping in a reserved and grave manner. The attentive Hunt jumps up from her bedside attendance to hear what poor Minnie has to say. Without opening her eyes she sighs, "Rosebud" and then smirks.

Healing is swift in the magic of movie time and Driver's portrayal of a twenty something gal having to deal with the final awakening of sexuality now that she's saved from her life of physical challenge is simply super. A very tasteful scene shows her opening her robe while staring into a mirror before her nightly shower with hope overshadowed by her deep fear of rejection. A normal young girl's wondering how she will be viewed by a future lover is dramatically increased by her slow start and a huge scar. A spirited embrace of all the goodies life has newly offered her however shows that her hope is well placed. But as a mother, my heart went out to the character for a struggle so well revealed.

Dave Duchovny is well cast here. I have never seen him in anything so his performance stood on singular merit. His flare for ironic and playful humor was balanced by an ability to rise above the very common role of grieving husband. Without melodrama, he portrays a man lost in space, condemned to drift among stars that can never be reached.

The writing is really first rate, again light and spiritual. The story is allowed to wander around in a varied and compelling landscape of a superb supporting cast. Carroll O'Connor hits all the high notes as the sturdy grandfather who has spent a life time of worry raising his orphaned sickly granddaughter. Religion is vary rarely handled with such style and sensitivity. As the miraculous and long awaited news arrives at his popular family restaurant (a clever multicultural quirk) that a heart has suddenly come available, his first instinct is to run to the chapel at the hospital to put in a good word with his favorite saint. He spends the long hours on his knees at the alter, confident that he is lifting his little Gracie up to the light on his reverent and patient shoulders.

Robert Loggia, another old favorite, plays the perfect counterpoint to the worrying, watchful grandpa. As the chef of the restaurant as well as the brother-in-law to O'Connor, the two argue and work in a well choreographed duet of talent. They sing, they dance, they plot and scheme, all the while engaging in their favorite long-standing debates on best ball players, singers, and different forms of poker. The rest of the comic characters playing the staunchly loyal staff inhabiting an establishment that caters to people who love Irish and Italian cooking are superb. All are old hands of the movie biz and work off each other like they made it all up at a family reunion after the keg was tapped.

I always have good things to say about James Belushi. In his early days it must have been quite a struggle with an actor/comic brother like the ill-fated John Belushi. But its clear that he's grown past the hammy college humor of that time period and in my opinion is undervalued as his perfomance here. As Bonny Hunt's high school sweetheart turned fireman husband he gives a great run at the stresses and successes of marriages that work. Fast paced laugh lines speed through his mouth as he makes a clumsy attempt to set Gracie up with a recently defrocked priest. Hunt and Belushi keep up the rat-a-tat with husband/wife banter that sprinkles stardust on the nagging and serves it up with a touch of wry. He does a chippendale number for his wife and Gracie that's gross, hysterical, and sweet as Hunt looks on with more than a spark of what brought them together five children ago.

I think that this movie is a must have DVD to watch together and often. It handles really tough issues like death, lasting love, the emergence of sexual stirrings, true physical beauty, and a happy old age. The young romance of Duchovny and Driver is contrasted by the doting old family cheering in the background. A very funny sidekick to Duchovny is shown with his parade of pick-up dates joining his friend at a bowling alley ("I thought you said this was a bar?!" "Yeah, you wanna beer?"). In astonishment the hip black playa watches his friend pretend to bowl because he finds Gracie's family a nurturing and encouraging group. Slowly he finds out that love means something more than you find in a cocktail on top of great curves.

All of this, the super writing, acting, and music is absolutely clean enough to show to any age. Even the occasional profanity or vulgar reference are properly packaged in the context of an ordinary, stable, loving family. Belushi is especially funny with his little mini-me son who parrots every single verbal indescretion at the worst possible moment.

See this movie. Talk about it. Watch it again.

September 15, 2008

This One's a KEEPER

I LOVE this movie. I watch it over and over. A good story and great music. When talking about unforgettable movies with my friends, I always recommend this one. This is definitely a KEEPER! June 11, 2008

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