RETURN TO ME

REVIEWED BY DALLAS SHIPP

Our rating: 4 out of 5

Because of: foul language

Rated:

Return to Me is a very well done romance that laces sorrow, comedy, and love together like a Danish pastry. It is a truly touching film that should be seen with someone you love. Although questionable material and foul language burned some scenes, the brunt of the movie was pristine. It is rare that you find such a clean film in the theatre these days. Especially when it comes with the subject of romance. The film was a big surprise to me, as I didn't have very high expectations for it. Recognizing only a few faces in the cast, I honestly wasn't expecting much. Return proved to be a time well spent. Many parts were very funny, and had most off the audience laughing. Some other scenes were very saddening, and even I felt like crying. Not only was the emotion of the film moving, but the story was truly applause worthy.

Bob (David Duchovy) and Elizabeth Rueland (Jolie Richardson) are a happily married young couple. Bob is the head of an architecture business in Chicago, but tries to spend as much time as possible with his beloved wife. Elizabeth is a gorilla expert at the Chicago Zoo, and dreams of a larger habitat for her ape friends. After attending a classy fundraiser for the Zoo, the Ruelands are involved in a tragic car accident, and Elizabeth is killed. Bob, grief stricken by her death, begins to go downhill. Meanwhile, Grace Briggs (Minnie Driver), a young woman who is dying of heart disease, receives Elizabeth Rueland's heart in a transplant. She and her family are overjoyed with her new try at life, and attempt to get her back into the swing of things. 

While her grandfather and other try to get her matched up for a date, but Grace is too self-conscious about her transplant to take interest. One evening, Bob meets Grace, and romance begins to bud between the two. Bob begins to come out of his depression, and Grace grows less shy. The couple go out together, and become very close. Grace, still very private when it comes to her surgery, can never bring herself to tell Bob about her transplant. And, of course, Bob never thinks that she could have his late wife's heart. 

This film takes you through the personal lives and romance of two lonely people. It winds you through their trials, misadventures, and comical families and friends. It's rated PG for some foul language (some repeated by a child -- played for laughs), light sexual material, and some cleavage. There were a lot of misuses of God's name ("Jesus," "Christ," "G--d---"), a few uses of "sh*t", "ass", and S.O.B. There is some mild blood in the film that is worth noting. When Elizabeth dies after a car accident (not shown), she is somewhat bloody at the hospital, as is Bob. No wounds of any kind are visible, but Elizabeth's head is wrapped in a bandage. Bob's suit is bloody for a while afterwards as well. Sexual content is light . One of Bob's friends, trying to get him to go on a date, mentions that the girl has a "great body." A few women seen in the film have low cut dresses on, and Grace is seen in a bathtub (only her lower legs and shoulders are visible). Grace also examines the scar from the transplant in another, showing some cleavage. A friend advises Grace not to shave her legs to keep her from "going to far." A married couple flirt with each other.

Although the language soured part of the film, I feel that Return to Me is a very good film. It had a good plot, excellent acting, quality comedy, and sob-able emotion. I honestly haven't seen such a good romantic film since Sabrina. I recommend this film to teens and adults, and I advise you to see it with your spouse (when applicable, of course). I seriously doubt that Return would interest most children in the first place, but I recommend caution if viewing this film with children. I enjoyed this film, and I hope you do too.

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