Return to Me Review by Erin Lorenz
As much as I am a Science Fiction and Fantasy movie fan, I also happen to be a
big Romantic Comedy fan. Now I realize that Return to Me with David Duchovny
and Minnie Driver has been around for a little while. But hey - some of us don't
always go to the opening day viewings:). Plus I sort of figured that I could
"squeak this review in" based on Duchovny's X-Files background.
After viewing Return to Me with Mr. Duchovny and Ms. Driver, it's probably a
good thing for my pocketbook that I didn't see the film on the opening day. I
came expecting to probably see David Duchovny playing a "slightly altered
version" of his Fox Mulder character on the X-Files. Instead I was pleasantly
surprised and pleased to see a much softer and warmer persona from Mr. Duchovny
- he CAN really act. The combination of Duchovny and Driver works - there is
chemistry there.
The pace of the film is excellent. I am notorious with videos for "fast
forwarding" past parts that I find too slow, and am still able to enjoy and
praise the film despite the "mechanical assist" that I give it. With Return to
Me there was only one area that I began to feel my hand slowly "creep forward
towards the VCR's fast forward button" - which would REALLY have been quite a
feat considering that I saw the film in a movie theater. Ah well....habits are
hard to break at times:).
Being a medical person (in the REAL world), the ethical dilema that is faced in
Return to Me is something that potentially COULD happen. Granted, it's a FAR
reach, but then the old adage that "truth is stranger than fiction" is there for
a reason.
As I said, there was only one area that I found to be somewhat slow, and then
the film's pace quickened. The supporting cast of Bonnie Hunt, Carol O'Connor
and Jim Belushi (just to name three of them) was excellent. They not only
supported the main characters but also "help make" the film a success. They made
me laugh WITH them, and they made me cry FOR them. THAT is characteristic of a
good movie!
Also - I could NOT talk about this excellent film without mentioning this
aspect. I am becoming more and more impressed with the talents of Bonnie Hunt,
who not only wrote the story but also co-wrote the screenplay and had a hand in
most of the production work.
This is not the first time that Ms. Hunt has done this,(though at present my
memory fails me as to the name of her past, similar excursion into the
multi-tasking area of acting/writing/directing - I just recall that I was also
very impressed at that time too) but I marvel at the fact that she has the
ability to both write, act and direct some very GOOD film. I feel that she is a
highly under-rated talent. If she continues in this same vein with her next
films she'll become a REAL hollywood force to contend with. Ms. Hunt is proving
that instead of an overnight sensation, sometimes the "slow and steady pace"
with the "smaller films" can also win the race.
| 
