IMDb > Forces of Nature (1999)
Forces of Nature
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Forces of Nature (1999) More at IMDbPro »

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Forces of Nature (1999) -- A soon-to-be-married man encounters an exciting stranger after his plane suffers an accident on takeoff.
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Overview

User Rating:
5.1/10   14,134 votes
MOVIEmeter: ?

Up 15% in popularity this week. See why on IMDbPro.

Director:

Bronwen Hughes

Writer (WGA):

Marc Lawrence (written by)

Contact:

View company contact information for Forces of Nature on IMDbPro.

Release Date:

19 March 1999 (USA) more

Genre:

Comedy | Romance more

Tagline:

He went from the eye of the storm, into the arms of a hurricane. more

Plot:

A soon-to-be-married man encounters an exciting stranger after his plane suffers an accident on takeoff. full summary | add synopsis

Awards:

2 wins & 5 nominations more

NewsDesk:
(19 articles)

September 4: DVD alternatives to this weekend’s multiplex offerings
 (From FlickFilosopher. 4 September 2009, 11:30 AM, PDT)

Top Ten Underrated Films (Of All Time)
 (From FilmShaft.com. 2 September 2009, 11:15 AM, PDT)

User Comments:

Stylish but pointless. ** out of ****. more (176 total)


Cast

  (Cast overview, first billed only)

Ben Affleck ... Ben Holmes

Sandra Bullock ... Sarah Lewis

Maura Tierney ... Bridget Cahill

Steve Zahn ... Alan

Blythe Danner ... Virginia

Ronny Cox ... Hadley

Michael Fairman ... Richard Holmes

Richard Schiff ... Joe

Athena Maria Bitzis ... Juanita the Bull Tamer (as Athena Bitzis)
Afemo Omilami ... Cab Driver

David Strickland ... Steve Montgomery

Jack Kehler ... Vic DeFranco
Janet Carroll ... Barbara Holmes
Meredith Scott Lynn ... Debbie
George Wallace ... Max (as George D. Wallace)
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Additional Details

MPAA:

Rated PG-13 for sensuality, language and a scene of drug use.

Runtime:

105 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1 more

Sound Mix:

DTS | Dolby Digital | SDDS

Company:

DreamWorks SKG more


Fun Stuff

Trivia:

'David Strickland''s last film. more

Goofs:

Crew or equipment visible: Reflected in Sarah's glasses. more

Quotes:

Ben Holmes: I haven't known you that long, but I think there may be something wrong with you. more

Movie Connections:

Referenced in How to Make It in Hollywood Before You Make It (2004) (V) more

Soundtrack:

Bring My Family Back more


FAQ

Chapter Headings, an official version:
more
11 out of 20 people found the following comment useful.
Stylish but pointless. ** out of ****., 24 April 2000
5/10

FORCES OF NATURE / (1999) **

"Forces of Natures" is a romantic comedy that gradually builds for a presumably happy conclusion, but completely disregards its momentum in the end, making this movie a hypocrite of itself. Although advancing through this story is sometimes amiable fun, the ending results are forgettable and pointless.

The movie's entire story is a series of uncanny coincidences ranging from heart attacks and drug busts to robbery and fires. Book-jacket blurbologist Ben Holmes (Ben Affleck), is becoming married to his fiancée, Bridget (Maura Tierney), in two days. At his bachelor party in New York, a stripper excites his grandfather into cardiac arrest. Ben stays with his relative a little while then catches a flight back to Georgia where Bridget is waiting.

Ben meets a young woman making out with her romantic interest at the airport. This woman, the pretty Sarah Lewis (Sandra Bullock), later ends up sitting next to him on the plane. Ben is a very nervous flyer, and when his flight crashes before it leaves the ground he becomes even more profoundly afraid of flying.

He and Sarah buddy-up with a man at the port hitching a ride to his wedding destination. This man turns out to be a criminal, however, and is busted with the unlikely pair in the car with him.

Many more events occur keeping Ben away from his wedding location. Such circumstances include a train wreck, a striptease, and mistaken identity. His parents (Michael Fairman and Janet Carroll), are not happy with his findings or state of affairs.

The film's conflict is getting Ben from New York to Savannah, Ga. to wed with his fiancée. No recent structure complicates its initial problem as clearly as "Forces of Nature," imaginatively written by Marc Lawrence. The gradual increase of passion between Ben and Sarah makes for rich romantic chemistry, although there is none developed between Bridget and Ben. "Forces of Nature" concentrates on creating chemistry with Sarah and Ben, but never with Bridget. I did not know what to believe. Is Ben in love with Sarah in which he has known for only a few days, or is his heart with his eagerly waiting to wed fiancée?

Lame conversations featuring Ben and Bridget on a bed videotaping themselves enhances what little character development present. Such lame dialogue present includes "I'm scared" and "It's the rest of our lives." Why doesn't the movie show us how the two characters feel about marriage instead of explaining it?

"Forces of Nature" contains an interesting style, consisting of neat camera effects, scenes cut short, believable cinematography and jaunty soundtrack numbers. Some of the film's style is over the top, however. There is a magical hailstorm sequence that plays like a music video on MTV. And most of the film's laughs come from witty one liners, not the many incidences of stylish film making.

Ben Affleck and Sandra Bullock are the right choices for Ben and Sarah. They bring forth effective performances thanks in part to stylish directing and cleverly written dialogue. Most of the final segments of the second act are spent on Ben making a decision between spending his life with Bridget or Sarah. Though the entire second act is wasted anyway in the manner this movie concludes itself.

"Forces of Nature" is a movie too silly for serious romantics and overly thought-provoking for audiences looking for a good laugh. Teenagers may identify with the film's glossy look. But for most viewers, this is just a music video with plot.

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It Happened One Night charlieinfinite
the ending made this movie for me NYbebop
South of the Border! ItsMillerTime86
song question!!!!! beceroo86
Does anybody know where I can find 'The Balcony' song? I'm desperate! grinch4627
sad...and confusing ending sherlene9
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