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Return to Paradise

  • 19981998
  • RR
  • 1h 51m
IMDb RATING
6.9/10
15K
YOUR RATING
  • Cast & crew
  • User reviews
  • Trivia
  • IMDbPro
Anne Heche, Vince Vaughn, and Joaquin Phoenix in Return to Paradise (1998)
Home Video Trailer from PolyGram Video
Play trailer0:32
1 Video
97 Photos
  • Drama
  • Romance
  • Thriller

Two friends must choose whether to help a third friend who was arrested in Malaysia for drug possession.Two friends must choose whether to help a third friend who was arrested in Malaysia for drug possession.Two friends must choose whether to help a third friend who was arrested in Malaysia for drug possession.

IMDb RATING
6.9/10
15K
YOUR RATING
  • Director
    • Joseph Ruben
  • Writers
    • Pierre Jolivet(motion picture Force Majeure)
    • Olivier Schatzky(motion picture Force Majeure)
    • Wesley Strick(screenplay)
  • Stars
    • Vince Vaughn
    • Anne Heche
    • Joaquin Phoenix
Top credits
  • Director
    • Joseph Ruben
  • Writers
    • Pierre Jolivet(motion picture Force Majeure)
    • Olivier Schatzky(motion picture Force Majeure)
    • Wesley Strick(screenplay)
  • Stars
    • Vince Vaughn
    • Anne Heche
    • Joaquin Phoenix
  • See production, box office & company info
    • 139User reviews
    • 64Critic reviews
    • 54Metascore
  • See more at IMDbPro
    • Awards
      • 2 nominations

    Videos1

    Return To Paradise
    Trailer 0:32
    Return To Paradise

    Photos97

    Kristin Davis at an event for Return to Paradise (1998)
    Anne Heche and Jada Pinkett Smith at an event for Return to Paradise (1998)
    Anne Heche and Vince Vaughn at an event for Return to Paradise (1998)
    Anne Heche and Vince Vaughn at an event for Return to Paradise (1998)
    Anne Heche and Vince Vaughn at an event for Return to Paradise (1998)
    Anne Heche at an event for Return to Paradise (1998)
    Anne Heche at an event for Return to Paradise (1998)
    Anne Heche and Jada Pinkett Smith at an event for Return to Paradise (1998)
    Anne Heche and Gus Van Sant at an event for Return to Paradise (1998)
    Anne Heche and Vince Vaughn at an event for Return to Paradise (1998)
    Anne Heche at an event for Return to Paradise (1998)
    Joey Lawrence and Matthew Lawrence at an event for Return to Paradise (1998)

    Top cast

    Edit
    Vince Vaughn
    Vince Vaughn
    • Sheriffas Sheriff
    Anne Heche
    Anne Heche
    • Bethas Beth
    Joaquin Phoenix
    Joaquin Phoenix
    • Lewisas Lewis
    David Conrad
    David Conrad
    • Tonyas Tony
    Vera Farmiga
    Vera Farmiga
    • Kerrieas Kerrie
    Nick Sandow
    Nick Sandow
    • Ravitchas Ravitch
    Jada Pinkett Smith
    Jada Pinkett Smith
    • M.J.as M.J.
    Ming Lee
    • Mr. Chandranas Mr. Chandran
    Joel de la Fuente
    Joel de la Fuente
    • Mr. Doraminas Mr. Doramin
    Richard Chang
    Richard Chang
    • Prosecutoras Prosecutor
    James McCauley
    James McCauley
    • Famous Divorce Lawyeras Famous Divorce Lawyer
    • (as James Michael McCauley)
    Brette Taylor
    Brette Taylor
    • Young Woman in Limoas Young Woman in Limo
    • (as Brettanya Friese)
    Deanna Yusoff
    • Woman in Baras Woman in Bar
    David Zayas
    David Zayas
    • Construction Foremanas Construction Foreman
    Amy Wong
    • Ticket Agentas Ticket Agent
    • (as Amy Wong)
    Is Issariya
    • Malaysian Woman in Hammockas Malaysian Woman in Hammock
    Ed Hodson
    • Features Editoras Features Editor
    Kevin Scullin
    Kevin Scullin
    • Doorman #1as Doorman #1
    • Director
      • Joseph Ruben
    • Writers
      • Pierre Jolivet(motion picture Force Majeure)
      • Olivier Schatzky(motion picture Force Majeure)
      • Wesley Strick(screenplay)
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro
    • All cast & crew

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    Storyline

    Edit
    Three friends share an exciting vacation in Malaysia, full of fun, drinks, women and hash. When the vacation is over, each have dreams of continuing their lives, and they all go their separate ways. One of them (Phoenix) remains on the tropical paradise to fulfill a dream of working with apes for research. Two years later, a lawyer (Heche) comes to New York and hunts down the other two friends to give some sad news. A few days after they left the island, police raided their camp and found amazingly large quantities of hash left about. Phoenix was still residing there, so he had to take the blame. He is set to be put to death in 8 days, and the only way the charges can be decreased is if the two friends come back to paradise and take their share of the responsibilty. If they do, they both will spend three years in prison. If only one does, he will spend six years behind bars... —R.P. Falvey
    • guilt
    • redemption
    • malaysia
    • prison
    • moral responsibility
    • 74 more
    • Plot summary
    • Add synopsis
    • Taglines
      • Give up three years of their lives or give up the life of their friend. They have eight days to decide.
    • Genres
      • Drama
      • Romance
      • Thriller
    • Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)
      • Rated R for language, drug content, some sexuality and a scene of violence
    • Parents guide

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      The first of two back to back films that Vince Vaughn and Anne Heche starred in together. After this, they recreated iconic roles in the remake of Psycho. Coincidentally, Vera Farmiga who made her film debut in this, also appeared in a retelling of Psycho with the TV series Bates Motel as Norman Bates' mother.
    • Goofs
      Long opening series of street scenes, local "color", was obviously filmed in Buddhist Thailand, complete with saffron-robed monks and red-green-gold Thai temples - Malaysia (population has 30 % non-Muslim minorities) doesn't have go-go bars or obvious brothels unlike Thailand).
    • Quotes

      Sheriff: I'm here, Lewis, I'm right here. You're not alone, Lewis. Look at me, Lewis. You're not alone, Lewis. Look at me. You're not alone. I'm here. Look at me. See me, Lewis. You're not alone. I'm right here. I'm right here, Lewis, I'm right here. I see you, Lewis. I'm right here. Lewis, you are not alone right now. I'm right here. You are not alone, Lewis. I see you. I see you, Lewis. I'm right here. You're not alone. You are not alone, Lewis!

    • Connections
      Featured in At the Movies: How Stella Got Her Groove Back/Return to Paradise/Snake Eyes/The Rat Pack/Full Tilt Boogie (1998)
    • Soundtracks
      Jing Jing (Firefly)

    User reviews139

    Review
    Top review
    8/10
    Riveting performances; unexpected twists!
    This well acted, intense drama is worth seeing on two counts:

    1) The excellent performances by Lewis (Phoenix) and Beth (Ann Heche)

    2) The uncompromising and original plot.

    Three young men decide to party in Malaysia, leaving one of them, a Greenpeace activist, behind after two years. He is sentenced to hang for a drug charge; only his two friends who have returned to America can save him.

    Not a car chase in sight, but the tension is high. The unexpected, emotion-filled ending is both gratifying and sad. I recommend this film with eight (8) stars.
    helpful•20
    4
    • pied
    • Dec 12, 1999

    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • August 14, 1998 (United States)
    • Country of origin
      • United States
    • Language
      • English
    • Also known as
      • A Long Way to Paradise
    • Filming locations
      • Eastern State Penitentiary - 2124 Fairmont Avenue, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA
    • Production companies
      • Polygram Filmed Entertainment
      • Propaganda Films
      • Tetragram
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Box office

    Edit
    • Gross US & Canada
      • $8,341,087
    • Opening weekend US & Canada
      • $2,465,129
      • Aug 16, 1998
    • Gross worldwide
      • $8,341,087
    See detailed box office info on IMDbPro

    Technical specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      1 hour 51 minutes
    • Color
      • Color
    • Sound mix
      • Dolby Digital
    • Aspect ratio
      • 2.35 : 1

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