Forces of Nature (1999)

A soon-to-be-married man encounters an exciting stranger after his plane suffers an accident on takeoff.

Director:

Bronwen Hughes

Writer:

Marc Lawrence

Stars:

Sandra Bullock, Ben Affleck, Maura Tierney

2 wins & 5 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Sandra Bullock	...	Sarah
Ben Affleck	...	Ben
Maura Tierney	...	Bridget
Steve Zahn	...	Alan
Blythe Danner	...	Virginia
Ronny Cox	...	Hadley
Michael Fairman	...	Richard
Janet Carroll	...	Barbara
Richard Schiff	...	Joe
David Strickland	...	Steve
Meredith Scott Lynn	...	Debbie
George Wallace	...	Max (as George D. Wallace)
Steve Hytner	...	Jack
John Doe	...	Carl
Jack Kehler	...	Vic

Storyline

Ben Holmes, a professional book-jacket blurbologist, is trying to get to Savannah for his wedding. He just barely catches the last plane, but a seagull flies into the engine as the plane is taking off. All later flights are cancelled because of an approaching hurricane, so he is forced to hitch a ride in a Geo Metro with an attractive but eccentric woman named Sarah.

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Plot Keywords:

love | neo screwball comedy | title directed by female | wedding | hurricane | 

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Taglines:

Why watch the Force when you can watch... Forces of Nature?

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Genres:

Comedy | Romance

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated PG-13 for sensuality, language and a scene of drug use

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

19 March 1999 (USA)

Also Known As:

Fuerzas de la naturaleza

Filming Locations:

Executive Motor Hotel - 5215 W. Broad Street, Richmond, Virginia, USA

Box Office

Budget:

$75,000,000 (estimated)

Opening Weekend USA:

$13,510,728, 21 March 1999

Gross USA:

$52,900,680

Cumulative Worldwide Gross:

$93,900,680

Company Credits

Production Co:

DreamWorks, Roth-Arnold Productions

Technical Specs

Runtime:

105 min

Sound Mix:

DTS Dolby Digital SDDS

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

The film was initially marketed as a potentially loose remake of Planes, Trains & Automobiles (1987), which was also released through Paramount Pictures. Both films feature similar plots, of a businessman who has to return home in a short amount of time and finds himself under the company of an annoying loudmouth. Although it was never billed as a remake, numerous interviews claimed the material was at least inspired by John Hughes' film.

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Goofs

The movie is supposed to start at one of the New York airports, but the terminal itself is clearly Washington Dulles, in Washington DC.

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Quotes

Ben Holmes: Are you going to be here when I get back?
Sarah Lewis: You know me.
Ben Holmes: I would not presume.

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Connections

References A Streetcar Named Desire (1951)

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Soundtracks

Do Your Duty
Written by Wesley Wilson
Performed by Sandra Bullock

User Reviews

Drawn out, ridiculous, and really quite awful

I firmly believe Ben Affleck is a gifted actor. But this is no Dogma, no Good Will Hunting...hell, even his role in 200 Cigarettes is more memorable. Ben proves the age old theory that the best actor in the world does not a good film make. Basically, the story is horrid. The script is horrid. Add that to the fact that I can't stand Sandra Bullock (scrawny and one-dimensional) and that makes an awful film. The upside? Maura Tierney's really cute and I really like Steve Zahn. That's about it. The story is absolutely ridiculous; why do writers feel the need to overdo and over-dramatize *everything*. Excessively melodramatic (the shining light through the hurricane onto Affleck and Tierny made me gag) and excessively unbelievable. I hate it when 'everything goes wrong' films don't leave any room for reality. Every five minutes some new mishap or disaster happened, and they were usually awkward and eye-rolling. And when a little bit of story actually started to take place, it was interrupted by yet another misadventure... And the film was *way* too loooooooong!! Nearly two hours of non-stop schlock. Could've chopped an easy 20 minutes off of it. Overall, I'd recommend a pass on this one. There are some really cheezy sentimental films out there that are still enjoyable despite any excess or melodrama. This isn't one of them. If it didn't have a decent cast or one or two mildly amusing scenes I'd rate it even lower, but as is: 4/10.