Just Like Heaven (2005)

A lonely landscape architect (Ruffalo) falls for the spirit of beautiful woman (Witherspoon) who used to live in his new apartment.

Director:

Mark Waters

Writers:

Peter Tolan (screenplay), Leslie Dixon (screenplay),

Stars:

Reese Witherspoon, Mark Ruffalo, Donal Logue

1 win & 1 nomination.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Reese Witherspoon	...	Elizabeth
Mark Ruffalo	...	David
Donal Logue	...	Jack
Dina Waters	...	Abby
Ben Shenkman	...	Brett
Jon Heder	...	Darryl
Ivana Milicevic	...	Katrina
Caroline Aaron	...	Grace
Rosalind Chao	...	Fran
Ron Canada	...	Dr. Walsh
Willie Garson	...	Maitre D'
Gabrielle Made	...	Nurse Maria
William Caploe	...	Nurse Bill
Shulie Cowen	...	Nurse Jenny
Billy Beck	...	Mr. Clarke

Storyline

Elizabeth Masterson, a dedicated doctor in San Francisco, had almost no time for anything. When her sister with two kids set her up on a date, she gets into a tragic car crash and gets in a coma. Meanwhile, a landscape architect named David Abbott moves into San Francisco and coincidentally, into Elizabeth's apartment for rent. While at the apartment, Elizabeth's spirit haunts him. She doesn't remember who she is, who her family is, and what she did - All that she remembered was her apartment and where everything was. To settle the arguments, David agrees to figure out who Elizabeth really is. When they get close to figuring out who she is, they eventually find love with one another and as they finally know who she really is, they learn that fate really has put them both together.

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Plot Keywords:

apartment | spirit | architect | landscape architect | doctor | 

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Taglines:

It's a wonderful afterlife.

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Genres:

Comedy | Fantasy | Romance

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated PG-13 for some sexual content

Details

Official Sites:

DreamWorks [us] UIP [fr]

Country:

USA

Language:

English Spanish Mandarin

Release Date:

16 September 2005 (USA)

Also Known As:

If Only It Were True

Filming Locations:

609 Vallejo Street, San Francisco, California, USA

Box Office

Budget:

$58,000,000 (estimated)

Opening Weekend:

$598,973 (Australia) (6 January 2006)

Gross:

£5,054,262 (UK) (20 January 2006)

Company Credits

Production Co:

DreamWorks SKG, MacDonald/Parkes Productions

Technical Specs

Runtime:

95 min

Sound Mix:

DTS Dolby Digital SDDS

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

The first feature film to use the Panavision Panaflex Millennium XL2 camera, the upgraded version of the Millennium XL.

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Goofs

When David is speaking with the realtor on his cell phone, the antenna is alternately up/down between shots.

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Quotes

[first lines]
Nurse Maria: Elizabeth...
Elizabeth Masterson: How long was I out?
Nurse Maria: Um, about six minutes.
Elizabeth Masterson: Thanks, I'll be right there.
Nurse Maria: OK, I'll be outside.

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Connections

References Napoleon Dynamite (2004)

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Soundtracks

"Brass in Pocket"
Written by Chrissie Hynde & James Honeyman-Scott
Performed by Kelis
Produced by Ralph Sall
Kelis appears courtesy of La Face Records/The Zomba Label Group

User Reviews

I was entertained

Why is a movie starring the wonderful Reese Witherspoon labeled a chick flick? Seems to me any male would want to see it. The viewer cannot help but love her character in this movie. Motherhood and marriage must agree with her, as she has never looked better.

Of course the storyline is quite fantastic and not very realistic. But who cares? I get up in the morning to face reality every day. I don't need to see too much of it at the movies.

Mark Rufalo did a fine job of acting, but to me it was Reese's movie all the way. I wonder why our movie critics and voters for Oscars and such don't give much weight to comedic actors and actresses? It takes just as much talent, and actually there are in my estimation less who really pull off comedic roles well. Reese Witherspoon has done it many times, and doesn't disappoint here. Most modern so-called comedies to me are simply not funny. However, this movie did make me laugh. The guy who works in the psychic bookstore was hilarious.

But this movie isn't all about comedy. It does touch at the heartstrings of any member of the human race who feels left out, feels like they are missing it. Usually a movie has one person who the viewer can really relate to. In this case, both leads played people who I could relate to.

If constant special effects, extreme violence, streams of foul language, or total realism are for you, then perhaps you should skip this movie. For the rest of us who can enjoy a romantic comedy, I can't imagine not being entertained by this movie. I left it feeling great.