The seemingly perfect relationship between a man and his wife is tested as a result of her alcoholism.
Related News
-
Michael Bolton Sings Trump Adviser John Bolton’s Horrific Ideas About War (Video)
30 March 2018 | The Wrap -
The Top Uses of Percy Sledge’s “When A Man Loves A Woman” in Movies or TV
05 January 2018 | TVovermind.com -
Chris Pratt Reveals His Favorite Pickup Line and Dishes on His Love Life in New Ellen YouTube Series
15 September 2017 | PEOPLE.com
User Lists
Related lists from IMDb users
Share this Rating
Title: When a Man Loves a Woman (1994)
Want to share IMDb's rating on your own site? Use the HTML below.
4 nominations.
See more awards »
Learn more
More Like This
Addicted to Love
(1997)
Comedy
|
Romance
Director:
Griffin Dunne
Stars:
Meg Ryan,
Matthew Broderick,
Kelly Preston
French Kiss
(1995)
Comedy
|
Drama
|
Romance
Director:
Lawrence Kasdan
Stars:
Meg Ryan,
Kevin Kline,
Timothy Hutton
Prelude to a Kiss
(1992)
Comedy
|
Fantasy
|
Romance
Director:
Norman René
Stars:
Meg Ryan,
Alec Baldwin,
Kathy Bates
Hanging Up
(2000)
Comedy
|
Drama
Director:
Diane Keaton
Stars:
Diane Keaton,
Meg Ryan,
Lisa Kudrow
I.Q.
(1994)
Comedy
|
Romance
Director:
Fred Schepisi
Stars:
Tim Robbins,
Meg Ryan,
Walter Matthau
City of Angels
(1998)
Drama
|
Fantasy
|
Romance
Director:
Brad Silberling
Stars:
Nicolas Cage,
Meg Ryan,
Andre Braugher
Kate & Leopold
(2001)
Comedy
|
Fantasy
|
Romance
Director:
James Mangold
Stars:
Meg Ryan,
Hugh Jackman,
Liev Schreiber
Sleepless in Seattle
(1993)
Comedy
|
Drama
|
Romance
Director:
Nora Ephron
Stars:
Tom Hanks,
Meg Ryan,
Ross Malinger
When Harry Met Sally...
(1989)
Comedy
|
Drama
|
Romance
Director:
Rob Reiner
Stars:
Billy Crystal,
Meg Ryan,
Carrie Fisher
You've Got Mail
(1998)
Comedy
|
Drama
|
Romance
Director:
Nora Ephron
Stars:
Tom Hanks,
Meg Ryan,
Greg Kinnear
Flesh and Bone
(1993)
Drama
|
Mystery
|
Romance
Director:
Steve Kloves
Stars:
Dennis Quaid,
Meg Ryan,
James Caan
Proof of Life
(2000)
Action
|
Drama
|
Thriller
Director:
Taylor Hackford
Stars:
Meg Ryan,
Russell Crowe,
David Morse
Edit
Cast
| Cast overview, first billed only: | |||
| Andy Garcia | ... | Michael Green | |
| Meg Ryan | ... | Alice Green | |
| Ellen Burstyn | ... | Emily | |
| Tina Majorino | ... | Jess Green | |
| Mae Whitman | ... | Casey Green | |
| Lauren Tom | ... | Amy | |
| Philip Seymour Hoffman | ... | Gary | |
| Eugene Roche | ... | Walter | |
| Gail Strickland | ... | Pam | |
| Steven Brill | ... | Madras Tie Guy | |
| Susanna Thompson | ... | Janet | |
 |
Erinn Canavan | ... | Shannon |
| LaTanya Richardson Jackson | ... | Dr. Gina Mendez (as Latanya Richardson) | |
|
|
Bari K. Willerford | ... | Malcolm |
| James Jude Courtney | ... | Earl | |
Edit
Plot Summary
|
Plot Synopsis
See All (58) »
Storyline
The seemingly perfect relationship between a man and his wife is tested as a result of her alcoholism.
Plot Keywords:
addiction | airline pilot | alcoholism | self centeredness | jealousy |Taglines:
What Love Built A Secret Could Destroy... See more »Parents Guide:
View content advisory »
Edit
Edit
See more on IMDbPro »
See full technical specs »
Details
Country:
USARelease Date:
13 May 1994 (USA) See more »Also Known As:
Significant Other See more »Edit
Box Office
Gross USA:
$50,021,959Company Credits
Show more on
IMDbPro »
Technical Specs
Runtime:
Color:
Color (Technicolor)Aspect Ratio:
1.85 : 1
Edit
See more »
Did You Know?
Goofs
When Michael takes the bottles out to the trash, a cameraman can be seen slinking past the open doorway of the house. See more »Quotes
Alice Green: It's horrifying how much you can hate yourself for being low and weak and he couldn't save me from that. So I turned it on him; I tried to empty it onto him. But there was always more, you know. When he tried to help I told him that he made me feel small and worthless. But nobody makes us feel that, we do that for ourselves. I shut him out because I knew if he ever really saw who I was inside, that he wouldn't love me. And we're separated now, he's moved away, and it was so hard not to beg him ...See more »
Crazy Credits
As the end credits roll, we see people socializing at an A.A. meeting. See more »Frequently Asked Questions
This FAQ is empty. Add the first question.Contribute to This Page
Watch Hollywood hits and TV favorites for free with IMDb Freedive. Start streaming on IMDb and Fire TV devices today!
Explore popular movies available to rent or buy on Prime Video.
Meg Ryan is very good in this role, but after watching this again, and noticing the Andy Garcia role more pronounced, his contribution is more complicated and nuanced.
Anyone who has experienced similar issues of substance abuse, whether a family, friend or significant other, will recognize the patterns; denial, rage, hostility. Particularly effective is the role of Alice's child; the older daughter who is often on the receiving end of her drunken hostility.
The time she spends in detox could have been delineated more clearly; Philip Seymour Hoffman is good in a brief role, as a fellow patient. The pain and rage that Meg Ryan lives with is just beneath the surface, even as Garcia, puzzled, says ..."well you work, you are functioning"..., and she reveals to him that she drinks a fifth of vodka every day, even at work. It shows how the non-alcoholic cannot fathom how someone can function and seem straight, even while on the job. She is a "functional alcoholic". Her brief encounter with her mother (Ellen Burstyn) indicates why she would not be willing to admit to the problem for many years.
This is a good film because it shows there are no concrete answers, while Garcia would like to save his marriage, he sees that there are several reasons he may have enabled Ryan and her addiction. While she is attending AA and getting better, he realizes he almost feels jealous of her. There are many layers to his performance, and as he realizes he can no longer live with himself as a co-dependent, he eventually chooses to separate.
Overall a very good and effective film about substance abuse issues, the breakdown of family, and communication issues. 10/10.