Forever Lulu (2000)

A schizophrenic romantic tracks down her college sweetheart to help her find their son she gave up for adoption sixteen years ago to the dismay of his new wife.

Director:

John Kaye

Writer:

John Kaye

Stars:

Melanie Griffith, Patrick Swayze, Penelope Ann Miller

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Melanie Griffith	...	Lulu McAfee
Patrick Swayze	...	Ben Clifton
Penelope Ann Miller	...	Claire Clifton
Joseph Gordon-Levitt	...	Martin Ellsworth
Richard Schiff	...	Jerome Ellsworth
Annie Corley	...	Millie Ellsworth
Lee Garlington	...	Linda Davis
Michael J. Pollard	...	Hippie
Steven Bauer	...	Lou
Ryan Bollman	...	Freddie
Matthew Fairchild	...	Man in Audience
Elisa Goodman	...	Woman in Audience
Greg Lipari	...	Book Seller
Daniel Nathan Spector	...	Clark
Gabrielle Ashry	...	Hostess - Helena's

Storyline

Lulu McAfee lives in a San Francisco home for mentally-ill adults. In June 1999, she bolts for L.A. and contacts Ben Clifton, an old flame, now unhappily writing for TV and unhappily married to a psychiatrist, Claire. Ben is ready to call Lulu's doctor when she tells him they have a son, born after she became ill and their affair ended. He calls Claire to tell her he's driving Lulu to Wisconsin to meet the boy on his 16th birthday, a visit Lulu claims is arranged. On the drive, Lulu tries to rekindle the affair and restart Ben's idealism. Meanwhile, Claire boards a plane to Madison to watch her marriage collapse. Is there really a son? What emotional landmines will the trip set off?

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Plot Keywords:

infidelity | dead child | adultery | female frontal nudity | hotel | 

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Taglines:

First Love Lasts Forever

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Genres:

Comedy | Romance

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated R for language, brief nudity and a scene of disturbing images

Details

Country:

Germany USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

3 March 2001 (USA)

Also Known As:

Along for the Ride

Filming Locations:

Los Angeles, California, USA

Box Office

Budget:

$20,000,000 (estimated)

Company Credits

Production Co:

Cinelulu Internationale Filmproduktiongesellshaft mbH and Co. 1 Beteilegung KG, Cinerenta Medienbeteiligungs KG, Green Moon Productions

Technical Specs

Runtime:

99 min

Sound Mix:

Stereo

Color:

Color

Did You Know?

Trivia

Antonio Banderas was originally cast as Ben Clifton.

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Goofs

In the swimming pool at the hotel, Lulu is naked in the long shot, but when she goes to talk to Ben, she wears a top.

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Connections

Features The Hustler (1961)

User Reviews

Drama about several serious subjects

I have no idea why this film was listed as a comedy. It definitely is a romance and depicts several different loves - infatuation (in flash backs and memories), parents' love a child, a wife's love for a husband, a husband's love of a wife, and a love above other loves.

Patrick Swayze is brilliant portraying a man torn between the burning memory of an earlier passionate love with Lulu (Melanie Griffith) and a love he feels for his wife. Swayze's character takes off across country with Lulu in search of his son with Lulu that he just found out about. Swayze is a handsome, moving leading man.

It is an excellent film that portrays a beautiful woman (Griffith) who has struggled with mental illness for years. Melanie Griffith's seems to always be able to portray sweet vulnerability even when her characters should not be sweet and vulnerable - she is able to dig down and find the soul of her characters.

Penelope Miller does a wonderful job as the wife of Swayze's character. Definitely worth watching - have tissues nearby!