As romantic comedies go, Return to Me is a little better than most. The characters are familiar but generally credible, and the script is competent if sometimes cloying. Since the film's quality is in between mediocre and good, whether or not you will enjoy it may depend upon your appreciation of dramatic, slowly paced romantic comedies.
The story begins with Elizabeth (Joely Richardson) as the lovely, perfect wife of lovely, perfect Bob Rueland (David Duchovny, from television's "X Files"). Elizabeth is a behavioral scientist working with Sydney, a zoo gorilla confined to a dreary cage. She wants Sydney to have a miniature habitat similar to the wild. Fortunately, her husband heads a construction company that has influential business with the zoo.
Meanwhile, poor Grace (Minnie Driver) is struggling for breath in a hospital bed, badly in need of a heart transplant. She receives one, at the cost of Elizabeth dying in a car accident. Bob is devastated, but eventually meets the now-healthy Grace while she is working as a waitress at her grandfather's restaurant. Romantic sparks predictably fly, but they are both unaware of what they already have in common: the spirit of Elizabeth, physically represented by her transplanted heart.
With Return to Me, the accent is on romance rather than comedy. The leads do not exchange witty insults; for that you must turn to the supporting cast. Carroll O'Connor and Robert Loggia play old timers whose long standing friendship allows them to brag and tease about their respective ethnic heritages.
Television veteran O'Connor, making his first feature film since 1974, plays Grace's Irish grandfather, and the owner of their restaurant. Loggia is the Italian cook. Other elderly, good natured friends and co-workers are played by Eddie Jones, William Bronder and Marianne Muellerleile.
Grace's wise, loyal best friend Megan Dayton is played by comedienne Bonnie Hunt, who is also director and co-writer for Return to Me. Megan is wed to blue collar funny man Joe (James Belushi). They have five mischievous little kids.
Joe Gian is the singer of the film's soundtrack tunes, and has a cameo as a restaurant performer. Don Lake, who co-wrote the film, appears briefly as a goofy man proud of his hair transplant.
The monastic loneliness of Grace and Bob is compared with the busy family lives of the Daytons, and with the hedonistic philandering of Bob's best friend Charlie (David Alan Grier).
While Return to Me is rich with character actors, it is short on story. First time director Hunt paces the film far too slowly, and I found myself literally writhing in my theater seat from boredom. Adherence to formula makes what exists of the story rather predictable; the only suspense lies in what romantic overtures by Bob will finally overcome Grace's neurotic reservations.
Driver is a very likable actress, and can play a wide range of emotions without affectation. Little is required of Duchovny however, and he is a bit somnolent throughout.
Nepotism update: Five of director Hunt's relatives have minor roles. Joely Richardson is the daughter of Vanessa Redgrave. Jim Belushi is the brother of the late comic John Belushi. (52/100)
Who knew that when he ordered the special, he d get the dish of his life? David Duchovny (The X-Files) and Minnie Driver (Good Will Hunting) ignite sp...More at Buy.com Marketplaces
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