Return to Me (2000)

A man who falls in love with the woman who received his wife's heart must decide which woman it is who holds his heart.

Director:

Bonnie Hunt

Writers:

Bonnie Hunt (story), Don Lake (story)

Stars:

David Duchovny, Minnie Driver, Carroll O'Connor

1 win & 2 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
David Duchovny	...	Bob Rueland
Minnie Driver	...	Grace Briggs
Carroll O'Connor	...	Marty O'Reilly
Robert Loggia	...	Angelo Pardipillo
Bonnie Hunt	...	Megan Dayton
David Alan Grier	...	Charlie Johnson
Joely Richardson	...	Elizabeth Rueland
Eddie Jones	...	Emmett McFadden
Jim Belushi	...	Joe Dayton (as James Belushi)
Marianne Muellerleile	...	Sophie
William Bronder	...	Wally Jatczak
Brian Howe	...	Mike
Chris Barnes	...	Jeff
Adam Tanguay	...	Adam Dayton
Karson Pound	...	Karson Dayton

Storyline

The film opens with a loving husband and wife preparing for a very important fund raising dinner. The evening ends with the loss of the wife. In a hospital a weak young woman who may die soon if she can not get a new heart. Jump ahead one year the young woman received a heart and is trying to adjust to a life no longer counted by hours or days, she can actually make plans. The grieving husband and his dog are still trying to adjust to life without his wife. His friends keep trying to pry him from his "work is my life" existence by setting him up on blinds dates. Finally he actually shows up for one at an Irish-Italian restaurant where he finds himself more attracted to the waitress than his blind date. He finds an excuse to return to the restaurant in hopes of seeing the waitress again, there's just something attractive about her. Unknown to both the attraction they both feel for one another is Grace has the heart of Bob's dead wife. What can you say after that! Carroll O'Connor says ...

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Plot Keywords:

three word title | scar | survey | blood | hospital | 

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Taglines:

For the strength to be strong; for the will to carry on; for everything you do; for everything that's true; I turn to you.

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Genres:

Comedy | Drama | Romance

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated PG for language and thematic elements

Details

Official Sites:

MGM

Country:

USA

Language:

English Italian

Release Date:

7 April 2000 (USA)

Also Known As:

Distance Calls

Filming Locations:

828 West Grace Street, Chicago, Illinois, USA

Box Office

Budget:

$24,000,000 (estimated)

Opening Weekend USA:

$7,820,836, 9 April 2000, Wide Release

Gross USA:

$32,662,299, 17 September 2000

Company Credits

Production Co:

Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM),JLT Productions

Technical Specs

Runtime:

115 min

Sound Mix:

DTS Dolby SR

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

There really is a bicycle shop names Rudy's on Irving Park that opened in 1937.

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Goofs

When Bob goes in to argue with the men in suits, one of the men has powdered sugar around his mouth, yet he's eating a bagel with cream cheese.

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Quotes

Bob Rueland: I miss Elizabeth. I'll always miss her. But I ache for Grace.

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Connections

References Citizen Kane (1941)

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Soundtracks

The Lion Sleeps Tonight
Original Music and Lyrics by Solomon Linda (uncredited)
Written by Hugo Peretti, George David Weiss, and Luigi Creatore
Performed by Joseph Gian (as Joey Gian)
Produced by Nicholas Pike

User Reviews

Beyond Wonderful

I just watched this move for the 5th or 6th time and am still in love with it. It still makes me cry and sing and worry and celebrate.

I almost wrote Bonnie Hunt a letter to tell her how much I love it. David Duchovny's grief scene is so flippin real!!! Minnie Driver is so natural and honest. My favorite line is when Duchovny says "I miss Elizabeth but I ache for Grace". Oh man! I'm crying just thinking about it. ALSO... Bonnie Hunt and Jim Belushi are sooooooooooooo the perfect Chicago area couple!! I know them I swear! I'm related to them I'm sure.

This movie is in my three times a year rotation!!! I'd watch it once a week but I'm afraid I'd get too used to it!!! I always want to make it a special day when I watch it!!