Droit au coeur

"Return to Me" is a fine example of quality films that Hollywood can still produce for the whole family. The cast is excellent and includes top old-time actors, stars from intermediate years and newer actors. Carroll O'Connor and Robert Loggia head a quartet of old-time buddies that close O'Reilly's Italian Restaurant each night. O'Connor is Marty O'Reilly, the owner. Loggia is his friend and famous Italian chef, Angelo Pardipillo. James Belushi and Bonnie Hunt are Joe and Megan Dayton. They are family friends of Grace Briggs, played by Minnie Driver. Grace is Marty's granddaughter. She has an inherited heart problem. Across town (Chicago), David Duchovny is a builder, Bob Rueland. He's married to Dr. Elizabeth Rueland, a zoologist at the city zoo. David Grier is Charlie Johnson, a veterinarian at the zoo. He heads a list of friends of Elizabeth and Bob.

That sets the stage for the movie. The opening scenes lay this much out, with more depth. Then the drama begins. This is a tender look at family and friends. It includes deep sorrow at loss of a beloved spouse at a young age. It includes the hope of a miracle for a young life that was born with a genetic disability. It is a film about friends and deep, lasting friendships. It is about loss of parents early in life. It is about a strong, loving relationship between a young woman and her grandfather. It is a film about strong faith and belief in God. It is a story about loss and recovery, illness and healing. It is film about joy, happiness and fun, and love of life.

The whole family should enjoy this uplifting look at life, family, friendship and faith.

I watched this movie in ICU several days after coming out of a coma. A nurse pulled the TV next to me and put the movie on as I was scared to go to sleep. At the time I wasn't sure if I was going to survive, but this movie lifted my heart and made me realise that despite the odds against me, I was alive and I had survived. I bought my own copy of the movie after leaving hospital and think about this film often.

Return to Me is a movie you will want to own. It is a story of inspiration and family love that appeals to all ages. The story, though seemingly impossible, aspires to divine intervention when a man looses his wife in a tragic accident and finds that love again in the woman who receives his wife's heart. David Duchovny and Minnie Driver give warm hearted performances as the designated to-be-lovers who meet by chance. But the real story lies in the friends and family around them who love and support them in times of trial. Carol O'Connor as Minnie Driver's grandfather, is authentic in every scene. Bonnie Hunt as the friend whose wit and encouragement underlines Minnie as a 'sister' is funny yet warm in the scenes especially with James Belushi as her husband. Classic scenes and writing makes this story so enjoyable and touching to watch over and over again. Thank you for making a movie that demonstrates families and friends as close knit caring people who love each other through difficult times.

I was introduced to this movie by my wife. At first, I thought "Oh no, not another romcom!". I am a huge X-FILES fan, and took some solace in the fact that David Duchovny was involved. Still, I figured I was doomed.

Well, I'm extremely happy to report that the opposite was true. I even tried to find fault with the movie, until realizing it was actually very good.

Duchovny shows a deeper, sensitive (!) side as Bob Rueland that I never would have expected. The loss of his wife (Joely Richardson) causes him to break down and withdraw from everything. Duchovney pulls this off in realistic fashion. My jaw dropped, and -egad!- I cried!

Minnie Driver's Grace Briggs, who has a physical issue that allows for the central drama / romance to unfold, is genuine and warm without being tiresome. Her grandfather and uncle (Carroll O'Connor and Robert Loggia) are a pair of gruff, older gentlemen who love each other in spite of their constant bickering.

Enter Writer, Director Bonnie Hunt and Jim Belushi as Grace's friends, and parents of a big family of their own. The interactions between them are hysterical and touching. My God! They're like a real family!

Ms. Hunt has definitely hit the top of her game here. The situations roll out naturally, even when they seem a bit impossible or somewhat supernatural. The comedy is perfectly sewn into the story, as is the tragedy. This makes the movie funny and uplifting. In other words: You may be laughing through tears.

I'm glad I was shown this film and would recommend it to anyone looking for a non-sappy, modern love story...

This is a completely unrealistic story dripping with sap. It should be too ridiculous to believe, and in some ways it is, but it's also heartwarming, funny, romantic and piercingly nostalgic. I loved it in 2000 and after 20 years I love it still. Just enjoy.