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| Return to Me | 
 enlarge | Actors: Chris Barnes (ix), James Belushi, William Bronder, Dick Cusack, Minnie Driver
Studio: MGM (Video & DVD)
Category: DVD
List Price: $14.98
Buy New: $4.49
You Save: $10.49 (70%)
New (55) Used (41) Collectible (1) from $3.49
Avg. Customer Rating:  301 reviews
Sales Rank: 2151
Format: Anamorphic, Closed-captioned, Color, Dvd-video, Widescreen, Ntsc
Languages: English (Original Language), Spanish (Original Language), Spanish (Subtitled), French (Subtitled)
Rating: PG (Parental Guidance Suggested)
Number Of Items: 1
Running Time: 115
Aspect Ratio: 1.85:1
DVD Layers: 2
DVD Sides: 1
Picture Format: Anamorphic Widescreen
Shipping Weight (lbs): 0.2
Dimensions (in): 7.5 x 4.9 x 0.6
MPN: MGMD1001040D
ISBN: 6306012419
UPC: 027616853417
EAN: 9786306012411
ASIN: 6306012419
Theatrical Release Date: April 7, 2000
Release Date: October 31, 2000
Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days
Condition: BRAND NEW, Factory Sealed items direct from the Studios. 30 Day Satisfaction Guarantee. Quick International Airmail!
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| Editorial Reviews:
Amazon.com
Bob Rueland (David Duchovny) and Grace Briggs (Minnie Driver) have very little in common. Granted, they both live in Chicago and they're both a bit lovelorn, but that's about it. Still, fate has something in mind for these two somewhat-depressed souls (a construction worker and budding artist, respectively), who've both recently had brushes with death--he's a recent widower, she's just recovered from a heart transplant--and are a little more serious than their friends and relatives. After a series of misbegotten blind dates and almost-meetings, though, these two finally get together, and find that they fit seamlessly with each other. Despite their differences, they have a lot in common--in fact, quite a lot. It seems that the heart that now beats inside Grace's chest once belonged to Bob's wife (Joely Richardson), who died in a car crash. Coincidence? We think not. A gentle, pleasing romantic comedy, Return to Me marks the directorial debut of Bonnie Hunt, an acclaimed actress known most famously for her role as Renee Zellweger's sister in Jerry Maguire. A shining, happy bright spot in whatever role she's in, Hunt has also invested the film with her trademark brand of humor: dry but sincere, sarcastic but not caustic, and with a deep current of humanity and romance. In the midst of all the permutations that fate surrounds them with, Driver and Duchovny make a pleasantly low-key couple; the triumph of the film is that despite all the contrived angst, the romance is never overly saccharine. They provide a quiet center in a film that has a fair amount of chaos in it, particularly due to Driver's extended family of Irish and Italian relatives (which occasionally tips the film into cutesy territory) and most hilariously to Driver's best friend, played by director Hunt . As a harried mother with innumerable kids and a likable oaf of a husband (James Belushi), Hunt again steals scenes effortlessly; Belushi is a comic revelation, better than he's been in years. You'll have the pleasant memories of both of these couples--one falling in love, one together for years--with you a long while after seeing this film. --Mark Englehart
Product Description
A charming restaurant owner plays match-maker between his beautiful granddaughter and a widower with hilarious and heartwarming results. Special features: audio commentary by bonnie hunt and don lake deleted scene featuring carroll oconnor and robert loggia and what if i love you music video. Studio: Tcfhe/mgm Release Date: 08/07/2000 Starring: David Duchovny Minnie Driver Run time: 116 minutes Rating: Pg Director: Bonnie Hunt
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| Customer Reviews: Read 296 more reviews...
 Return to Me October 31, 2008
This movie is wonderful. All the actors are very good in this movie. It is heartwarming.
HEARTFELT October 8, 2008
This movie was recommended to me and it was the best romance drama that I have ever seen. It had me crying, & laughing. I watched it 4 times in 2 days.
I loved it!!!
Quirky love story September 27, 2008
I admit, this is not the usual type of romantic comedy. And that is just what appealed to me. For how could something as taboo as discussing a heart transplant translate to romantic comedy? It does, through an incredibly sweet story.
David Duchovney plays an architect who has lost the only woman he has ever loved. Minnie Driver is a sheltered waitress who receives the dead wife's heart. A year later, they meet, and sparks fly in spite of the heartbreaking secret.
But this is not a drama in any sense of the word. This is a story about life and love and human bonds. The romance is believable yet storybook smooth, without any true angst to put a damper on the light humor.
Even so, this is the kind of movie that may require tissues. But there is plenty of Irish and Italian chaos to bring back smiles.
Not just a chick flick September 15, 2008
My son brought his DVD collection home from his stint in the military and took this movie out to cheer me one day. I'm not enthusiastic about movies with a medical theme especially not dying patients (I was a nurse and my husband is a surgeon) but he assured me that it was uplifting and not too dark and dire.
Three cheers for Bonny Hunt. What a smash hit! I've always loved her acting style but here she does everything but run the catering truck. Music production, directing, and a zillion other things. There are about a half dozen Hunts in the credits so I'm assuming she has a terrific and talented family to fall back on.
The necessary drama involved with heart transplantation is handled with a light and spiritual hand. I loved the song played over the transposition of a deeply grieving husband and the transfer of his beloved wife's heart. Something about an angel and very beautifully scored.
Minnie Driver is aces especially playing along side Bonny Hunt. The two showed real family style confidence and love with a generous dose of witty humor. The stricken Driver is shown pale faced and drawn, gasping in a reserved and grave manner. The attentive Hunt jumps up from her bedside attendance to hear what poor Minnie has to say. Without opening her eyes she sighs, "Rosebud" and then smirks.
Healing is swift in the magic of movie time and Driver's portrayal of a twenty something gal having to deal with the final awakening of sexuality now that she's saved from her life of physical challenge is simply super. A very tasteful scene shows her opening her robe while staring into a mirror before her nightly shower with hope overshadowed by her deep fear of rejection. A normal young girl's wondering how she will be viewed by a future lover is dramatically increased by her slow start and a huge scar. A spirited embrace of all the goodies life has newly offered her however shows that her hope is well placed. But as a mother, my heart went out to the character for a struggle so well revealed.
Dave Duchovny is well cast here. I have never seen him in anything so his performance stood on singular merit. His flare for ironic and playful humor was balanced by an ability to rise above the very common role of grieving husband. Without melodrama, he portrays a man lost in space, condemned to drift among stars that can never be reached.
The writing is really first rate, again light and spiritual. The story is allowed to wander around in a varied and compelling landscape of a superb supporting cast. Carroll O'Connor hits all the high notes as the sturdy grandfather who has spent a life time of worry raising his orphaned sickly granddaughter. Religion is vary rarely handled with such style and sensitivity. As the miraculous and long awaited news arrives at his popular family restaurant (a clever multicultural quirk) that a heart has suddenly come available, his first instinct is to run to the chapel at the hospital to put in a good word with his favorite saint. He spends the long hours on his knees at the alter, confident that he is lifting his little Gracie up to the light on his reverent and patient shoulders.
Robert Loggia, another old favorite, plays the perfect counterpoint to the worrying, watchful grandpa. As the chef of the restaurant as well as the brother-in-law to O'Connor, the two argue and work in a well choreographed duet of talent. They sing, they dance, they plot and scheme, all the while engaging in their favorite long-standing debates on best ball players, singers, and different forms of poker. The rest of the comic characters playing the staunchly loyal staff inhabiting an establishment that caters to people who love Irish and Italian cooking are superb. All are old hands of the movie biz and work off each other like they made it all up at a family reunion after the keg was tapped.
I always have good things to say about James Belushi. In his early days it must have been quite a struggle with an actor/comic brother like the ill-fated John Belushi. But its clear that he's grown past the hammy college humor of that time period and in my opinion is undervalued as his perfomance here. As Bonny Hunt's high school sweetheart turned fireman husband he gives a great run at the stresses and successes of marriages that work. Fast paced laugh lines speed through his mouth as he makes a clumsy attempt to set Gracie up with a recently defrocked priest. Hunt and Belushi keep up the rat-a-tat with husband/wife banter that sprinkles stardust on the nagging and serves it up with a touch of wry. He does a chippendale number for his wife and Gracie that's gross, hysterical, and sweet as Hunt looks on with more than a spark of what brought them together five children ago.
I think that this movie is a must have DVD to watch together and often. It handles really tough issues like death, lasting love, the emergence of sexual stirrings, true physical beauty, and a happy old age. The young romance of Duchovny and Driver is contrasted by the doting old family cheering in the background. A very funny sidekick to Duchovny is shown with his parade of pick-up dates joining his friend at a bowling alley ("I thought you said this was a bar?!" "Yeah, you wanna beer?"). In astonishment the hip black playa watches his friend pretend to bowl because he finds Gracie's family a nurturing and encouraging group. Slowly he finds out that love means something more than you find in a cocktail on top of great curves.
All of this, the super writing, acting, and music is absolutely clean enough to show to any age. Even the occasional profanity or vulgar reference are properly packaged in the context of an ordinary, stable, loving family. Belushi is especially funny with his little mini-me son who parrots every single verbal indescretion at the worst possible moment.
See this movie. Talk about it. Watch it again.
This One's a KEEPER June 11, 2008
I LOVE this movie. I watch it over and over. A good story and great music. When talking about unforgettable movies with my friends, I always recommend this one. This is definitely a KEEPER!
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