The old song says "you've got to have heart" and heart is what this film is all about. Crusty curmudgeons beware; this film is dripping with romantic sap. If you're a sucker for implausibly perfect romances (I am) this is two hours well spent. If your hero is Ebenezer Scrooge you will absolutely hate this film.
David Duchovny plays Bob Rueland, owner of a successful construction company and husband of Elizabeth, his beautiful, charming wife. Early in the film, the couple is in an auto accident. She does not survive. He does, but in body only. If you think of the grieving Tom Hanks in Sleepless in Seattle you've got the picture here.
Minnie Driver plays Grace Briggs, an invalid desperately in need of a heart transplant. The end of Elizabeth's life provides a new beginning for Grace. Some time later, Grace and Bob meet but neither of them are aware that the heart that he is missing is the heart that beats inside of her. Who will realize it first? How will it affect their relationship? These are the questions that drive the film through the second act.
The real heart of the film is relationships. The splendid ensemble cast is part of what makes this film work. The supporting characters are rich portraits of "urban villagers" in ethnic Chicago. Grace is a waitress at an Irish-Italian pub where her grandfather (Carol O'Connor) and his friends play poker and argue about which country produced the greatest singers. The Irishman argues for Bing Crosby, the Italian friend comes up with Sinatra, Martin, Lanza, and more, and the Polish friend is left with Bobby Vinton. I grew up in a Chicago neighborhood where most of my classmates were Polish, Italian, or Greek. I remember similar debates between Myron Dyzurko, Angelo Benedetto, and Quincy Barteslewski. This geriatric "gang of four" is part of the charm of this film, the Chicago setting just adds to it.
Minnie Driver is charming as Grace, but she gets great support from the second tier. In addition to the fearsome foursome, Bonnie Hunt reprises her role as supportive best friend. Hunt has played similar roles in Jerry Maguire and Only You and she is perfect for this part. Jim Belushi plays her husband and provides some great humor throughout the film. But Hunt is ultimately the star of this show since she is one of four people given credit for the story, one of two given credit for the screenplay, and is the director of record. Hunt's direction is occasionally unconventional but her timing is flawless and the end result is wonderful.
This is not a profound film or even a great film, but it is certainly fun and will warm the heart. This film will be of no help if you need a heart transplant, but if you happen to be in need of a tune-up, you might want to give it a try.
David Duchovny plays Bob Rueland, owner of a successful construction company and husband of Elizabeth, his beautiful, charming wife. Early in the film, the couple is in an auto accident. She does not survive. He does, but in body only. If you think of the grieving Tom Hanks in Sleepless in Seattle you've got the picture here.
Minnie Driver plays Grace Briggs, an invalid desperately in need of a heart transplant. The end of Elizabeth's life provides a new beginning for Grace. Some time later, Grace and Bob meet but neither of them are aware that the heart that he is missing is the heart that beats inside of her. Who will realize it first? How will it affect their relationship? These are the questions that drive the film through the second act.
The real heart of the film is relationships. The splendid ensemble cast is part of what makes this film work. The supporting characters are rich portraits of "urban villagers" in ethnic Chicago. Grace is a waitress at an Irish-Italian pub where her grandfather (Carol O'Connor) and his friends play poker and argue about which country produced the greatest singers. The Irishman argues for Bing Crosby, the Italian friend comes up with Sinatra, Martin, Lanza, and more, and the Polish friend is left with Bobby Vinton. I grew up in a Chicago neighborhood where most of my classmates were Polish, Italian, or Greek. I remember similar debates between Myron Dyzurko, Angelo Benedetto, and Quincy Barteslewski. This geriatric "gang of four" is part of the charm of this film, the Chicago setting just adds to it.
Minnie Driver is charming as Grace, but she gets great support from the second tier. In addition to the fearsome foursome, Bonnie Hunt reprises her role as supportive best friend. Hunt has played similar roles in Jerry Maguire and Only You and she is perfect for this part. Jim Belushi plays her husband and provides some great humor throughout the film. But Hunt is ultimately the star of this show since she is one of four people given credit for the story, one of two given credit for the screenplay, and is the director of record. Hunt's direction is occasionally unconventional but her timing is flawless and the end result is wonderful.
This is not a profound film or even a great film, but it is certainly fun and will warm the heart. This film will be of no help if you need a heart transplant, but if you happen to be in need of a tune-up, you might want to give it a try.