Forces of Nature

PG-13

3/12/19991h 45m

Theatrical Release (US)

~ He went from the eye of the storm, into the arms of a hurricane. ~

Overview:

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 Sara.

Director:

Bronwen Hughes

Status:

Released

Language:

English

Buget:

$75,000,000.00

Revenue:

$93,888,180.00

Key words:

airplane
cataclysm
single
travel
wedding
storm
extramarital affair
woman director

Cast

Sandra Bullock

~ as ~

Sarah Lewis

Ben Affleck

~ as ~

Ben Holmes

Maura Tierney

~ as ~

Bridget

Steve Zahn

~ as ~

Alan

Blythe Danner

~ as ~

Virginia

Ronny Cox

~ as ~

Hadley

Michael Fairman

~ as ~

Richard Holmes

Janet Carroll

~ as ~

Barbara Holmes

Richard Schiff

~ as ~

Joe Farrell

David Strickland

~ as ~

Steve Montgomery

View full cast & crew

Reviews (1)

Wuchak
Written 7 year(s) ago
6
Fun road romcom with Ben Affleck, a zany Sandra Bullock and a great ending

A man (Ben Affleck) sets out to fly from New York to Savannah to be married to his bride (Maura Tierney), but circumstances compel him to use other means of transportation with an attractive, but screwy traveling companion (Sandra Bullock). Will this new relationship and their misadventures change his plans over the course of the next two days?

I’m a sucker for road movies and Affleck is great as the principled protagonist, but Bullock’s character, Sarah, is so erratic she becomes seriously irritating by the midpoint that it’s hard to see how anyone would find her appealing, at least as a possible lifelong companion. Thankfully, the sights are interesting and the pair’s mishaps are amusing enough (although I feel the script needed a rewrite to flush out better prospects). In addition, the last act is actually ballsy and totally changed any negative feelings I had. The movie’s not really anti-marriage; it just shows the awful truth and potential glory. In other words, it’s realistic and balanced.

What’s funny is that Roger Ebert expressed outrage over the climax and called it smarmy. All I can say is he didn’t ‘get’ it because it’s not disingenuous at all. In fact, it’s revelatory; and wholly fits. I don’t want to say anything more because I don’t want to spoil it. Reflect on the key points and everything makes sense.

The film runs 1 hour, 45 minutes and was shot in New York City, Washington DC, Virginia, Tennessee, South Carolina, Georgia and Florida. Steve Zahn is on hand as the best man.

GRADE: B-/C+