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Purely Joyful Movie!

Good start, but then it gets ruined

Excellent and certainly provocative... If nothing else, the film is a real conversation starter.

It's a good bad... and worth a popcorn matinée. While it's easy to lament what could have been...

Family members have been trying to get me to watch this movie for a while. I was reluctant because, by the way they described it, I was sure it would be just another chick flick filled with OH COME ON! moments.I finally relented and watched it. And I was partly right. There were moments when I was screaming OH COME ON! at the screen. It was almost enough to make me quit watching it. Almost.There was no believable reason for Grace's reluctance to mail the letter. It was anonymous. It was a thank you note, written in the sincerest possible words. It is conceivable that it might have been hard to write, difficult to find the right wording. But once it was written any normal minded person would have dropped it in the mail box. Now some will argue that there were some womanly, inexplicable, incomprehensible emotions tying her up inside. And that's just my point. Chick Flick. OH COME ON!The whole business of her reluctance to tell Bob about her heart surgery made no sense to me. Again, maybe it makes some sense in some womanly manner that no man can ever comprehend. Again - chick flick. But the worst part of all was Bob running away. WAD! This was the worst part of the movie. The whole time we're lead to believe that he's Mr. Wonderful, Mr. Perfect, Mr. Knight in Shining Armor. And at the first moment of any realism he runs away with the old cliché' "I gotta go"? Give me one big f***ing break!All of that was just contrived conflict pieces, totally implausible plot devices that exist for no purpose but to increase conflict in the story and to drag out the running time. I hate those. I knew they'd be there and I was right. It doesn't matter if it's a man directing or a woman, whether the writer was male or female, it's just pure lazy film making in my opinion. I get that conflict in a story is necessary. But to create conflict purely for its own sake is like being married to someone who starts fights just because she gets bored.And I f***ing hated the way that Joe and Megan yelled at each other, yelled at the kids, cussed in front of the kids, and treated each other. There was some attempt to show that they really loved each other. But sh*t, who could handle being yelled at like that all the time. Megan is standing in the kitchen doing nothing but yells at Joe to change a diaper. He's sitting there holding the boy. But because he's drinking a beer he's made to look like a dead beat dad who never helps out around the house. That part drove me nuts.The woman who played Sofie was really bad. I mean, like community theater bad.Carroll O'Conner's Irish accent was about the worst I've ever heard.Some of the editing was iffy. The scene when Bob breaks down crying on the floor, I felt, was cut away too quickly to the scene of grace in the garden. I felt it needed just a moment longer. At times the music was perfect and at others it was distracting. The opening song was perfect and it would have been nice to close with that too. I'm sure budget constraints played some part in that.However, all in all it was great story. It did have me in tears on more than one occasion. Duchovny and Driver have unmistakable chemistry and their respective talents make you wonder why we don't see more of them. The photography was great. The chemistry between the four old guys was also great. The priest was an unnecessary addition that made no sense to me and added nothing to the story. It was never mentioned why he was no longer a priest. It was just dropped...until he pops up obnoxiously again at the end.The Don Lake character (dude with the hair transplant) was also too much. It was necessary to show what Grace is subjected to with people trying to set her up. But it went on way too long.The biggest injustice was Bonnie Hunt, who did a fine job of directing, and the film grossed more than its budget, is relegated to doing TV, like so many other women directors. If she were a man she'd be doing features. Over all, if you like romance, if you like drama, comedy and tears, and if you're OK with chick flicks, then I highly recommend this film.

I'm one of those women who usually skips love stories; to be honest, I haven't found that many I can tolerate. These days they're all so cheesy and sappy and predictable, the acting leaves much to be desired... etc. I first saw this movie when I was an early teen, and I'm now in my 20's, and it's still probably my favorite movie. I don't even know where to begin praising this, but here I go. Bonnie Hunt, who also has a lead, directed this film, and I couldn't think more of her talent after seeing it. Her character is lovable; that family member who keeps everyone calm and in one piece. I LOVED the boisterous, comical Irish family- they make you want to be part of it. The acting by Minnie Driver and David Duchovny, alike were amazing, flawless performances. You can really feel all of Bob's pain, but also sincerity at finding love again when he finally realizes he's up to trying. Minnie's talent shows through as always; her accent was also flawless, didn't catch one English slip throughout the whole film, she's a pro at it by now! I ( and I'm sure many women) will be able to see a little of themselves in Grace. This movie makes you smile, laugh, cry, and if you're in any way religious, it really tugs at your heart, and tells you that sometimes, things aren't just "coincidence". The best facet of this film is it's totally unique plot, how two people find each other in such an amazing, endearing and life altering way. And the best part is, when you watch it over and over, you notice things that are very heart-wrenching but also beautiful.This movie exemplifies the way love should happen, when you know, you know. And some people are just meant to be.

To be honest, I originally watched this flick because of the title song -- I'm a huge Dino fan -- and I wondered what they did with his million seller...and they did fine...although I prefer the original arrangement. And it was nice to hear several other Dino songs in the soundtrack.But after I heard his song as the opening, I stuck around and discovered a very nice romantic comedy, and one well worth watching.I'm not a David Duchovny fan at all, but he does very nicely here as the husband (though his crying looked a little silly). I think it was in this film that I discovered Minnie Driver, the recipient of the heart transplant...wow, what an actress, and the very picture of loveliness. It was nice to see Carroll O'Connor in what was his last film, as the father of Driver; be prepared...he seems very old here...deteriorating health had caught up with him...and he lived only another year. I have always enjoyed performances by Robert Loggia, and no less so here...as the family friend and chef. Bonnie Hunt, as always, lends something positive to any production. I was going to write that I never understood why David Alan Grier hadn't caught on, since I've always enjoyed him...but when I looked him up again I discovered he's very active and successful on Broadway. The rest of the cast is very pleasant and enjoyable...even Sidney! It's difficult to find much in this film that deserves criticism. There are a few places where they could have picked the pace up just a bit, but that's just about the only negative comment I have. It's a good love story. Nothing more, nothing less.

It's great to see a romance with those two great actors whom have marked the late 90's. Minnie is a unique woman, the living proof that sexy blonds aren't the ultimate dream! For Duchovny, if Pacino is the man i would like to be, well David is the man i am: shy, silent, retired with a dry humor and basketball fan. Their reunion gleams and the story is deliciously written to bring as much as joy as sorrow. I admit that i was waiting to see David cry and he was memorable indeed. Another strong point of the movie is the elder club. They are wisdom alive with all their mileage and they are maybe more lively than the young. With the beginning, i was afraid that the father would pass away, above all it appears to be the last movie of this actor. At last, the choice of Chicago (instead of LA or NY) allows intimacy and the brief Italian interlude adds an exotic Romanticism. Ah, if love in real life could be as simple as in movies, well the world would be paradise!