A Little Bit of Heaven (2011)

An irreverent young woman who uses her humor to prevent matters from getting serious has a life-changing visit with her doctor.

Director:

Nicole Kassell

Writer:

Gren Wells

Stars:

Kate Hudson, Gael García Bernal, Kathy Bates

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Kate Hudson	...	Marley Corbett
Gael García Bernal	...	Julian Goldstein
Kathy Bates	...	Beverly Corbett
Lucy Punch	...	Sarah Walker
Romany Malco	...	Peter Cooper
Rosemarie DeWitt	...	Renee Blair
Whoopi Goldberg	...	God
Treat Williams	...	Jack Corbett
Steven Weber	...	Rob Randolf
Peter Dinklage	...	Vinnie
Alan Dale	...	Dr. Sanders
Jason Davis	...	Thomas Blair
Bailey Bass	...	Cammie Blair
Charlotte Bass	...	Cammie Blair
Brett Rice	...	Ad Agency Client

Storyline

An irreverent young woman who uses her humor to prevent matters from getting serious has a life-changing visit with her doctor.

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Plot Keywords:

hospital | new orleans louisiana | gay neighbor | gay friend | interracial friendship | 

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Taglines:

Life starts now.

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Genres:

Comedy | Drama | Fantasy | Romance

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated PG-13 for sexual content, including crude references, and language

Details

Official Sites:

Official site [jp]

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

4 May 2012 (USA)

Also Known As:

Earthbound

Filming Locations:

New Orleans, Louisiana, USA

Box Office

Opening Weekend:

$10,011 (USA) (4 May 2012)

Gross:

$10,011 (USA) (4 May 2012)

Company Credits

Production Co:

Davis Entertainment, Film Department, The

Technical Specs

Runtime:

106 min

Sound Mix:

SDDS Datasat Dolby Digital

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Did You Know?

Goofs

When Marley is drunk riding her bike, the car that is behind her (going same direction) is the in front of her ( opposite direction)

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Quotes

Marley Corbett: Do you mind if I ask you a personal question?
Julian Goldstein: No.
Marley Corbett: Why do you not have a girlfriend?

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Connections

Featured in Great Movie Mistakes III: Not in 3D (2011)

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Soundtracks

Shine - Laura Izibor
Happy weekday blues - Kermit Ruffins
Move that thang - TC Moses
Dirty Rice - Phil Symonds
Song for Cara - Dues and Dont'ts
Love Feelin' - Aida
Here it goes again - OK Go
Two-Boned Stew - P.O.E
Makeup of a fool - Ivan Neville, Anders Osborne, Tony Hall and Raymond Weber
Funky Munky Binzis - Jon Cleary
Treme Second Line - Kermit Ruffins
Perfect Day - The Senventeens
Let's go - Hipjoint Featuring Sherry St. Germain
Ay Valeria! - Ricardo Lemvo
String Quartet In B Flat Major, Allengro - Aria Quartett
Soiree - Helen Jane Long
All the way up - Miss Eightty6
Pretty Girl - Vincent Vincent And THe Villains
Beauty In The World - Macy Gray
Montuno Uno - P.O.E
Mercedes Benz - Janis Joplin
You Are The Best Thing - Ray LaMontagne
When The Saints Go Marching In - Ivan Neville, Anders Osborne, Tony Hall and Raymond Weber
A Closer Walk With Thee - Ivan Neville, Anders Osborne, Tony Hall and Raymond Weber
Nola Jump - Ivan Neville, Anders Osborne, Tony Hall, Raymond Weber, Shammarr Allen and Tom Fitzpatrick

User Reviews

Could have been so much better

Much of this story about Marley (Hudson) is done quite well but a large chunk of it comes across as poorly directed, or just a film with an unconvincing screenplay. Perhaps the gambit of romance intertwined with life changing health news was just not up to the kind of examination a movie like this gives. Or it may be because Marley was not an especially well thought out character.

For starters I was stuck with the notion that Marley was just superficial but then why would she have friends like those she had? Then I thought Marley was intended to be tough and independent, just not ready for settling down. Eventually I wondered if the film was just about timing but then I thought it was an odd way to demonstrate the subject. By the end I was unconvinced and yet I so wanted to be moved by the whole thing.

There is nothing too much wrong with this film to put your finger on and yet it is just unsatisfactory as a whole. The acting is reasonable, the dialogue at times quite sharp and amusing, the sound and vision easy on the ears and eyes, and there are some really quite moving scenes. But there is something missing. Perhaps it just needed a slightly stronger hand on the tiller, someone not afraid to get their hands dirty by taking chances along the journey. Did the director (Kassell) just play safe because she wanted average reward rather than some more meaningful plaudits? So if you are stuck for something to watch on a Sunday afternoon this film will probably fit the bill. I just wish it had been better.