Forces of Nature (1999)

Director:

Bronwen Hughes

Writer (WGA):

Marc Lawrence (written by)

Release Date:

19 March 1999 (USA)

Genre:

Comedy | Romance

Tagline:

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

Plot:

A soon-to-be-married man encounters an exciting stranger after his plane suffers an accident on takeoff.

Plot Keywords:

Marriage | Geo Metro | Road Trip | On The Road | Airplane Accident

Awards:

2 wins & 5 nominations

Cast

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)
Steve Hytner	...	Jack Bailey
John Doe	...	Carl Lewis
Anne Haney	...	Emma
Bert Remsen	...	Ned
Julie Ivey	...	Beth
Maia Lien	...	Sandy
Danny Scalf	...	Skycap
Franklin H.D. Ecker	...	Groomsman #1
Rafiki Smith	...	Groomsman #2
Carter Reedy	...	Groomsman #3
Taylor Gilbert	...	Dr. Keller
Francisco De Ramírez	...	Bus Driver
Pat Crawford Brown	...	Florence
Bill Erwin	...	Murray
William Marquez	...	Herman
Michael Cudlitz	...	Bartender
Libby Whittemore	...	Car Rental Agent
Dan Albright	...	Officer McDonnell
Mike Pniewski	...	Conductor
Antone Calandra	...	Sunseeker
Bill Coates	...	Sunseeker
Damon Frost	...	Sunseeker
Vivian Edwards-Ashford	...	Sunseeker
Tommy Chappelle	...	Sunseeker
James Chirbas	...	Sunseeker
Jean Gates	...	Sunseeker
Joan Glover	...	Sunseeker
Bob King	...	Sunseeker
Winnie Hammer	...	Sunseeker
George Stoba	...	Sunseeker
Leon Lamar	...	Sunseeker
Judith Maltenfort	...	Sunseeker
Marc McPherson	...	Hotel Manager
Shelly Desai	...	Cabbie
Cordell Nichols	...	Child on Train
Dan Biggers	...	Justice of the Peace
Mali Miller	...	Sunseeker
Nathalie Hendrix	...	Airport Reporter (as Natalie Hendrix)
Eddie Miller	...	Sunseeker
Scott Pierce	...	News Anchor
Ginnie Randall	...	Sunseeker
Shannon Welles	...	Lady in Wheelchair
Beverly Shelton	...	Sunseeker
Danny Nelson	...	Sunseeker
Jacki Wilson	...	Sunseeker
Marshall Rosenblum	...	Ticket Vendor
Wes Kennemore	...	Thief
Bob King	...	Sunseeker
Brandon McLaughlin	...	Delivery Man
Justin Michael Benassi	...	Sarah's Son
Joanne Pankow	...	Sunseeker Gladys
Lester Cohen	...	Port Authority Spokesman
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Kara Hamilton	...	Kirsten
Cal Johnson	...	Wedding Party Guest #1
Chad Ridgely	...	Police Officer
David Smith	...	Bachelor Party Patron
Rob Springer	...	Wedding Videographer
Derrick Damions	...	The Survivor (uncredited)
Jeremy DeCarlos	...	South of the Border Tourist (uncredited)
Jada DeVille	...	(uncredited)
Christofer Michaels	...	Assistant (uncredited)
Joe Pantoliano	...	Cab Driver (uncredited)
Heidi Salinger	...	Snooty Kid (uncredited)
Timothy J. Scanlin Jr.	...	Student from Antwerp (uncredited)
Jade Wu	...	Traveler (uncredited)

Directed by
Bronwen Hughes

Writing credits (WGA)
Marc Lawrence		(written by)

Produced by
Susan Arnold	....	producer
Ian Bryce	....	producer
Donna Roth	....	producer
Steven P. Saeta	....	associate producer
Ricki Spector	....	associate producer

Original Music by
John Powell

Cinematography by
Elliot Davis
David Stockton

Film Editing by
Craig Wood

Casting by
Junie Lowry-Johnson

Production Design by
Lester Cohen

Art Direction by
Christa Munro

Set Decoration by
Leslie Morales
Chuck Potter

Costume Design by
Donna Zakowska

Makeup Department
Sherri Bramlett	....	hair stylist
Tina Harrelson	....	makeup artist
Patricia McAlhany Glasser	....	hair stylist
Candace Neal	....	hair stylist
Sandra S. Orsolyak	....	makeup artist
Janine Rath	....	hair stylist: Ms. Bullock
Amy Schmiederer	....	assistant makeup artist
Michelle Weiss	....	assistant hair stylist
Pamela S. Westmore	....	makeup artist: Ms. Bullock
Cindy J. Williams	....	makeup artist (as Cindy Jane Williams)
Janet Carey	....	additional makeup artist (uncredited)
Stephen Kelley	....	makeup artist (uncredited)
Barbara Lacy	....	makeup artist (uncredited)

Production Management
Erica Frauman	....	post-production supervisor
Pamela Hochschartner	....	unit production manager: New York second Unit
Cordy Rierson	....	production manager
Steven P. Saeta	....	production manager

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Michael N. Anderson	....	first assistant director: second unit
John Guss	....	additional second assistant director
K.C. Hodenfield	....	first assistant director
Lisa C. Satriano	....	second assistant director (as Lisa Satriano)
Rebecca Stefan	....	second second assistant director (as Rebecca A. Stefan)
Alexander Witt	....	second unit director

Art Department
Jack Ballance	....	set designer
David M. Bowen	....	assistant property master
Clifton T. Cooper	....	set dresser
Sarah Costello	....	painter
Max Daly	....	art department assistant
Susan Dennis	....	property assistant
Daniel Dietrich	....	construction foreperson
Abigail Drury	....	scenic painter
Frank M. Fleming	....	lead man
Patrick Fuhrman	....	set dresser
Kevin Garland	....	labor foreman
Lillian Heyward	....	computer graphic designer
Lillian Heyward	....	graphic designer/sign designer
Richard Hill	....	construction propmaker foreman
Claire Kirk	....	art department coordinator
Scott A. Lawson	....	set dresser
Bryan Lee	....	construction foreperson
Melissa Matthies	....	property master
Alton McClellan	....	paint foreperson
John W. Morgan	....	stand-by painter
Thomas A. Morris Jr.	....	construction coordinator
Todd Morris	....	on-set dresser
Scot Noonan	....	labor foreman
Bozydar Orszula	....	construction foreperson
Doug Petersen	....	construction propmaker foreman
Chuck Potter	....	co-set decorator
Ricky Riggs	....	scenic charge
Glenn Rivers	....	draftsman
Larry Sauls	....	set dresser
Jonathan Short	....	set designer
Ben T. Sineath Jr.	....	set dresser
John Thomas	....	paint foreperson
Penny Thomas	....	paint foreperson
Dixie Leigh Townsend	....	construction buyer
Stacy Weddington	....	buyer
Stacy Weddington	....	set dresser
Angie Woodard	....	assistant property master

Sound Department
Erik Aadahl	....	assistant dialogue editor
Michael Babcock	....	sound editor (as Michael T. Babcock)
David Beadle	....	dialogue editor
Anna Behlmer	....	sound re-recording mixer
David Betancourt	....	foley mixer (as Dave Betancourt)
Lukas Bower	....	dialogue editor
Rick Canelli	....	adr recordist
Carrie Cashman	....	foley recordist
Lawrence L. Commans	....	additional boom operator
Mark Cookson	....	foley editor
Russell DeWolf	....	dialogue editor (as Russ DeWolf)
Joe Dorn	....	adr supervisor
Dawn Fintor	....	foley artist
Andrea S. Gard	....	assistant sound designer
Howell Gibbens	....	adr editor
Kevin Globerman	....	second engineer
Larry Goeb	....	dialogue editor
Tim Gomillion	....	sound re-recordist
David Grecu	....	foley editor (as Dave Grecu)
David Hankins	....	supervising sound editor
Sara Hankins	....	adr apprentice editor
Craig Heath	....	sound recordist (as Craig 'Pup' Heath)
Sonya Henry	....	dialogue editor
Andy Kopetzky	....	foley editor
Andy Nelson	....	sound re-recording mixer
Bob Newlan	....	foley supervisor
Thomas J. O'Connell	....	adr mixer
Geoffrey Patterson	....	production sound mixer
Robert Renga	....	sound recordist
Joe Schiff	....	adr assistant
Frank Smathers	....	sound effects editor
Mark Steinbeck	....	boom operator
Alicia Stevenson	....	foley artist
Bruce Tanis	....	sound effects editor
Randy Thom	....	sound designer
Bill Ward	....	assistant sound editor
Ben Wienert	....	cable person
Geoff Zanelli	....	sound engineer
Geoff Zanelli	....	synths recording

Special Effects by
Steve Bunyea	....	special effects technician (as Steven Bunyea)
Jack Davis	....	special effects technician
Ken Ebert	....	special effects technician
John Frazier	....	special effects supervisor
Tommy Frazier	....	special effects technician
Jim Jolly	....	special effects technician (as Jim Jolley)
Ralph Kerr	....	special effects technician
Martin Montoya	....	special effects technician
Joe Pancake	....	special effects technician
Frances Pennington	....	special effects technician (as Francis Pennington)
J.D. Schwalm	....	special effects
James D. Schwalm	....	special effects on-set coordinator (as Jim Schwalm)
Bryan Wohlers	....	special effects technician
Michael J. Hudson	....	special effects technician (uncredited)
Walter Kiesling	....	special effects technician (uncredited)

Visual Effects by
David Blizard	....	digital artist
Casey Cannon	....	computer graphics producer: BFTRE
Richard Chuang	....	visual effects supervisor
Michael Cooper	....	visual effects plate supervisor
Chanda Cummings	....	digital artist
Jean Cunningham	....	digital artist
Michael Day	....	digital artist
Philippe Denis	....	digital artist
Jonathan Derovan	....	visual effects producer
Alex Drought	....	digital nonlinear engineer
Konrad Dunton	....	digital artist
Jonah Hall	....	digital artist
Thane Hawkins	....	digital artist
Jason Heapy	....	production coordinator
Kristi Hewitt	....	digital artist
Sharon Smith Holley	....	visual effects editor
David House	....	digital artist
Les Hunter	....	visual effects producer: PDI
Mel Kangleon	....	color timer: PDI
Stephanie Katritos	....	digital artist
Ken Keys	....	digital artist
Henry LaBounta	....	visual effects supervisor
Ed Lazor	....	digital artist
Alan G. Markowitz	....	visual effects supervisor
Gerald McAleece III	....	technical assistant
Alberto Menache	....	character technical director: PDI
Alberto Menache	....	digital artist
George Merkert	....	visual effects executive producer: PDI
Barbara Meyers	....	digital artist
Steven Moder	....	digital non-linear engineer
Shawn Neely	....	software development
Bertrand Ong	....	digital artist: PDI
Stephan Osterburg	....	digital artist
Brice Parker	....	visual effects coordinator
Sean Pollack	....	digital artist
Thomas Pushpathadam	....	digital artist
Federico Revia	....	digital artist
Marc D. Rienzo	....	compositor: PDI/DreamWorks
Federico Rivia	....	digital effects artist
Krzysztof Rostek	....	digital artist
James Rowell	....	digital artist
Jesse Silver	....	matte artist
Alan Sonneman	....	matte painter
Rahul Thakkar	....	software development
Chris Trimble	....	digital artist: PDI
Adam Valdez	....	animation supervisor
Todd Vaziri	....	computer graphics artist: BFTRE
Nathania Vishnevsky	....	digital artist
Larry Weiss	....	computer graphics sequence supervisor: PDI
Erik Winquist	....	digital artist: PDI
Mark Edwards	....	film recorder operator: PDI (uncredited)
Marlon Montgomery	....	animation technology (uncredited)
Curt Stewart	....	digital effects artist (uncredited)

Stunts
Nancy Ellen Anzalone	....	stunt double: Sandra Bullock
Lena Fennema	....	stunts
Lex D. Geddings	....	stunt actor
Cal Johnson	....	stunt coordinator
Michael Li	....	stunts
Tina Mckissick	....	stunts
Rex Reddick	....	stunts
Larry Rippenkroeger	....	stunts
Stevan Schwartzenberger	....	stunts
Lonnie R. Smith Jr.	....	stunts (as Lonnie Smith)
Michele Waitman	....	stunts

Camera and Electrical Department
Jamie Barber	....	first assistant camera: second unit
Jeff Becker	....	rigging chief lighting technician
Lee Blasingame	....	first assistant camera
Kirk Bloom	....	second assistant camera
John Buckley	....	chief lighting technician
Kristen Bunting	....	grip
Thomas Crawford	....	best boy grip
Jason Dannenberg	....	additional grip
Greg Fausak	....	grip (as Gregory Fausak)
Bill Fine Jr.	....	electrician (as Bill Fine)
John Fine	....	electrician
Ken Fisher	....	camera operator
Ken Fisher	....	camera operator: second unit
Thomas Gibson	....	best boy: second unit (as Tom Gibson)
Steven A. Guerrero	....	best boy rigging grip
Paul Hamacher	....	grip
Jimmy Harritos	....	electrician
Mark Jackson	....	first assistant camera
Doug Keegan	....	electrician
Nathaniel Kendrick Jr.	....	electrician (as Nathaniel Kendrick)
Chris Lombardi	....	camera operator: "b" camera
Richard Mall	....	key grip
Jabez Maurer	....	rigging electric
Ethan McQuerrey	....	electrician
Renton-Paul Medcalf	....	key rigging grip
Darren Michaels	....	unit still photographer
Joseph C. Ogg Jr.	....	electrician
Ryan Parks	....	second assistant camera: second unit
David Pearlberg	....	dolly grip
Jeff Pelton	....	second assistant camera: second unit
Calmar Roberts	....	first assistant camera: second unit (as Cal Roberts)
Scott Ronnow	....	camera loader
Mark Sannes	....	key grip: second unit
Mike Satterfield	....	electrician (as Michael Satterfield)
Scott Satterfield	....	grip (as Scott Neil Satterfield)
John Seravic	....	grip
Mike Shaheen	....	video playback operator
Chris Squires	....	Steadicam operator
Mark Suveg	....	video assist operator (as Mark C. 'Snackie' Suveg)
Aaron Atom Vyvial	....	additional grip
Aaron Atom Vyvial	....	additional rigging electrician
Warner R. Wacha	....	second assistant camera (as Warner Wacha)
Alexander Witt	....	director of photography: second unit
R. Michael Yope	....	assistant chief lighting technician
Glenn Cannon	....	playback operator (uncredited)
Randy Tharpe	....	rigging electrician (uncredited)

Casting Department
Libby Goldstein	....	casting associate
Chris Hutchins	....	location casting

Costume and Wardrobe Department
Amy Andrews	....	wardrobe supervisor
Sharon Globerson	....	assistant costume designer
Zandra Harding	....	key costumer
Juliet Ouyoung	....	assistant costume designer: New York
Virginia D. Patton	....	wardrobe supervisor (as Ginnie Patton)
Frankie Ritacco	....	costumer
Kate Sawyer	....	set costumer
Joel Voorhies	....	costumer: Ms. Bullock (as Joel D. Voorhies)
Gillian Waterman	....	costumer

Editorial Department
Tony Bacigalupi	....	assistant editor
Gary Burritt	....	negative cutter
Terry Claborn	....	color timer
Kevin Du Toit	....	post-production assistant
Sven E. Fahlgren	....	post-production coordinator
Peter Fandetti	....	assistant editor
Simon Morgan	....	assistant editor

Music Department
Sandy DeCrescent	....	orchestra contractor
Bruce Fowler	....	orchestrator
Gavin Greenaway	....	additional music arranger
Gavin Greenaway	....	conductor
Todd Homme	....	executive in charge of music
Michelle Kuznetsky	....	music supervisor
Alan Meyerson	....	score mixer
Yvonne S. Moriarty	....	orchestrator
Marvin R. Morris	....	assistant music editor
Katherine Quittner	....	music editor
Katherine Quittner	....	music editor: temp music
Mary Ramos	....	music supervisor
Robbie Robertson	....	creative music consultant
Gregg Silk	....	assistant score engineer
Steven L. Smith	....	music preparation
Gavin Greenaway	....	composer: additional music (uncredited)

Transportation Department
Neil Castles Jr.	....	driver
Howie Mandel	....	transportation co-captain (as Howard Mandel)
Peter Mandel	....	mechanic
Sheila Mandel	....	transportation office coordinator
Randy Peters	....	transportation coordinator
Ron Poniewaz Jr.	....	transportation co-captain
Ron Poniewaz	....	transportation captain
Candace Wells	....	transportation captain
David Carlton White	....	transportation co-captain

Other crew
Joanne Abrams	....	assistant: Ms. Arnold
Jason Asher	....	production secretary
Brumby Broussard	....	production assistant
David Butler	....	production assistant
Abby Callahan	....	assistant to directors
Kyle Cooper	....	title designer: main title sequence
Stephen M. Corbin	....	craft service
Sundy Corbin	....	craft service
Julie Cummings	....	production assistant
Aria Noelle Curzon	....	adr artist
Max Daly	....	production assistant
Maria DeVane	....	post-production accountant
Betsy Doubledee	....	production assistant
Franklin H.D. Ecker	....	location assistant
Erin Engman	....	assistant production office coordinator
Tracey Fajen	....	production assistant
Billy Fields	....	set medic
Pamela Fowler	....	set medic
Lee Futch	....	production assistant
Soren Garcia-Rey	....	assistant: Mr. Affleck
Yvonne Goessling	....	assistant: Ian Bryce
Andrew Grob	....	assistant location manager
John Guss	....	production assistant (as John Walker Guss)
Cate Hardman	....	script supervisor
Jason Heapy	....	production coordinator
Bill Hill	....	assistant accountant
Lance Holland	....	location manager: North Carolina
Amy Leigh Johnson	....	unit publicist
Michael Leon	....	location manager
Lara Leonard	....	assistant: Ms. Bullock (as Lara L. Leonard)
Sheila Mandel	....	production assistant
Walter M. McCormick	....	projectionist (as Walt McCormick)
Kathryn Mindala	....	accountant
Steven R. Molen	....	production executive
Danielle Netzinger	....	production assistant (as Danielle Crockett)
Janice Perry	....	production assistant
Randy Peters	....	aerial coordinator
Bill Phillips	....	assistant accountant
Michael Scott Reid	....	production assistant
Chris Romberg	....	first assistant accountant
Rip Russell	....	assistant accountant
Adam Shankman	....	choreographer
Todd Soley	....	stand-in: Ben Affleck
Timothy Stone	....	assistant location manager
Karen Turner	....	payroll accountant
Denise Vasquez	....	production assistant
Lois Walker	....	production coordinator
Megan Weaver	....	assistant: Ms. Roth
Andrew J. Young	....	location scout
Kurt Zelnak	....	travel coordinator
Brooke Brunson	....	production assistant (uncredited)
Michael Clossin	....	stand-in: male (uncredited)
Albert B. Cooper IV	....	representative: Georgia Film Office (uncredited)
Elissa Ewalt	....	production assistant: Virginia (uncredited)
Ronda McCall	....	production assistant (uncredited)
Shannon Petska	....	assistant production office coordinator (uncredited)
Senia Phillips	....	animal trainer (uncredited)
Kelly Tippens	....	stand-in: Sandra Bullock (uncredited)

Production Companies

• DreamWorks SKG
• Roth-Arnold Productions

Distributors

• DreamWorks Distribution (1999) (USA) (theatrical)
• United International Pictures (UIP) (1999) (theatrical) (non-USA)
• Filmes Lusomundo (1999) (Portugal) (theatrical)
• United International Pictures (UIP) (1999) (Argentina) (theatrical)
• United International Pictures (UIP) (1999) (Switzerland) (theatrical)
• United International Pictures (UIP) (1999) (Germany) (theatrical)
• United International Pictures (UIP) (1999) (Spain) (theatrical)
• United International Pictures (UIP) (1999) (France) (theatrical)
• United International Pictures (UIP) (1999) (Netherlands) (theatrical)
• American Broadcasting Company (ABC) (2002) (USA) (TV)
• Argentina Video Home (????) (Argentina) (VHS)
• CIC Vídeo (Brazil) (VHS)
• Cinema International (1999) (Netherlands) (VHS) (rental)
• Net5 (2002) (Netherlands) (TV)
• Universal Home Video (Brazil) (DVD)
• Universal Pictures Benelux (2000) (Netherlands) (VHS) (retail)
• Universal Pictures Benelux (2003) (Netherlands) (DVD)

Special Effects

• Pacific Data Images (PDI)

Other Companies

• BT Industrial Supply  expendables
• Behind the Scenes Freight  shipping by
• Chapman/Leonard Studio Equipment  camera cranes
• Chapman/Leonard Studio Equipment  dollies
• Chapman/Leonard Studio Equipment  remote camera systems
• DreamWorks Records  soundtrack
• Imaginary Forces  main titles design
• Jo Anne Kane Music Services  music preparation
• Lightnin' Production Rentals  transportation equipment
• Media Ventures  music production services
• Movie Movers  cast trailers
• Movie Movers  transportation
• Pacific Title/Mirage  titles and opticals
• Studio City Productions  marketing and promotion: syndication

Also Known As:

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

Sound Mix:

DTS | Dolby Digital | SDDS

Certification:

Argentina:13 | Australia:M | Chile:14 | Finland:S | France:U | Germany:6 | Norway:11 | Portugal:M/12 | Spain:T | Sweden:7 | Switzerland:7 (canton of Geneva) | Switzerland:7 (canton of Vaud) | UK:12 | Singapore:PG | Philippines:PG-13 | Iceland:L | USA:PG-13 (certificate #36559) | South Korea:15

Filming Locations:

Executive Motor Hotel - 5215 W. Broad Street, Richmond, Virginia, USA

Company:

DreamWorks SKG

Trivia:

David Strickland's last film.

Goofs:

Errors in geography: The movie is supposed to start at one of the New York airports, but the terminal itself is clearly Washington Dulles, in Washington DC.

Quotes:

Ben Holmes:Sometimes the people we meet change us forever.

Movie Connections:

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

Soundtrack:

La Virgen De La Macarena

Planes, Trains and…very few laughs

Two days before his wedding, Ben's grandfather has a heart attack while dancing with a stripper. Due to the delay Ben's fiancé, Bridget, flies ahead to Savannah to make the preparations. Ben catches a plane later the day and meets free-spirit Sarah. When the plane is in a minor crash the two join up to head to Savannah by any way other than road, leading to one `comic' delay after another. Meanwhile the two become a little closer and Ben begins to doubt that marriage is for him.

I first saw this in the cinema with my girlfriend (at the time) in a fit of trying to be seen to be giving and willing to watch silly films that she wants to see. At the time I was particularly untaken by the whole film despite the odd amusing touch. A few years on she bought it on video – she likes the silly films she can watch with her friends – and I gave it another go. The film is sadly as poorly pitched as I remember it, it isn't light enough to be funny and it isn't well enough written to be an involving drama. However, by trying to do both it fails to do either well.

The light part is clearly indebted to `Planes, Trains & Automobiles' in it's make-up, with cross country japes and one mishap after another. However to even compare the laughs in that film with the low number in this is, well, laughable. The film tries to have some `hilarious' set pieces but none of them are more than amusing. Even the support characters who wander in and out only ever manage a few good lines. What makes this harder is the serious side to the film where Sarah has a child and an abusive husband and Ben gets nothing but advice not to marry. This element is present all the way through and makes the film much more of a drama than a comedy, but, because it wants to be funny as well, the drama doesn't really work very well.

Affleck is a non-character here and doesn't have the charisma to really involve the audience. Bullock is normally good but this is outside of her normal character and she doesn't wear the difficult edges well. The two have a reasonable chemistry that helps them through the rough patches but they don't fizz or spark together. The support cast throws up a few interesting faces who give good performances including Ronny Cox, Zahn, Tierney and a few others.

The film has been applauded for the realistic (low-key) ending which is certainly better on paper than the usual formulaic ending and on this I pretty much agree. It doesn't spoil the film simply because the 30 minutes before this are so very serious and not funny. On top of this the film also has some nice directorial touches in slow-mo rain and hail storms. However the impact of the emotional climax in a swirling wind of flower petals is rather spoilt by the really poor back projection used to carry it off.

Overall though this film is a bit of a letdown as it manages to only half work as a comedy and as a drama although it does have some nice touches that make it worth seeing as long as you know what to expect.