The Bishop Don "Mack" Donald is back, and this time he’s
managed to get into to see a screener of the David
Duchovny/Minnie Driver romantic comedy Return To Me.
Here’s what The Bishop thought:
In every Grandparent’s house was that old couch. The
familiar, slightly ragged resting place which you could just
sink into and live forever in the soft cushions and pleasing
feel. RETURN TO ME is the directorial debut of comedy
genius Bonnie Hunt (THE GREEN MILE, JERRY
MAGUIRE), and her first film is one of the most endearing,
comfortable movies I’ve seen come from a newcomer. Like
that old couch, you can just sit back and feel the warmth
and love that Hunt creates with her diverse cast and her
touching - yet decidedly funny - script.
David Duchovny stars as Bob, an architect who loses his
beloved wife in a car accident. At the same time, a young
woman with heart disease named Grace (Minnie Driver) waits
for a heart donor, and finds one in Bob’s dead wife. Not
knowing the recipient of the vital organ, Bob moves on with
his life and tries to cope with his tragic loss. A freak
meeting in a restaurant brings Grace and Bob together, and
they fall in love. Trouble is, Grace finds it hard to tell Bob
about her heart operation, and even harder to explain to her
boyfriend that his deceased wife’s heart in inside her.
It’s rather simple romantic comedy material, but even
something that seemingly easy is hard to pull off. Recent
films like RUNAWAY BRIDE and NOTTING HILL failed to
create a rich romantic atmosphere with both films bordering
on the mechanical side. RETURN TO ME is the product of
genuine love and affection from a woman who has killer
comedy instincts and a rich understanding of large families.
I’m a huge fan of Hunt’s - so I’m biased.
Hunt’s created (with co-writer Don Lake) a superbly "lived in"
world for the film. You instantly feel comfortable with all the
actors in this film, a rarity in current cinema. With almost
every movie traipsing around - acting as if on the loudest
meth binge ever - RETURN TO ME is easy going and
warmly performed. Rich characters ranging from Grace’s
proudly Irish grandfather (Carroll O’Conner) to her sister and
her sloppy husband (Hunt and James Belushi, who steals
every scene) to Bob’s best friend (an oddly muted David
Alan Grier), all add to a kind of melting pot of actors armed
with Hunt’s sublime script. It’s all one big family of
performers and is just a sheer pleasure to watch them work
off each other.
David Duchovny finally gets a chance to shine a little with a
leading role that shies away from the dour X-FILES Agent
Mulder character that Duchovny will be saddled with for the
rest of his life. He actually smiles in this film! Minnie Driver
has been a charmer for many flicks now, with RETURN an
opportunity for the actress to give her Lucille Ball-like facial
gestures a workout. The two share touching chemistry, but
Hunt never lets the romance get sappy. There are tears to
be had here, but only ones that have been earned. Besides,
Hunt deserves the Nobel alone for getting a rich comic
performance from Belushi.
When James Belushi is actually a comic highlight, you know
the movie you’re watching is something special. RETURN
TO ME is that very movie.
A treat that will sneak up on you, RETURN TO ME is a
keeper. With so many movies seemingly stamped from a
cutout on a large conveyor belt, it’s good to see a film that
invites you to the party. Trust me, when this movie is over,
you will feel as though you just attended a family reunion.
Hunt’s gift for comedy and storytelling are not to be missed.
A must see. ---------- 10
The Bishop Don "Mack" Donald