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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
18 of 19 people found the following review helpful
Format:DVD
This is a wonderfully touching portait of a man, Hurt, who cannot grieve for his dead son and eventually ends up losing his marriage as well.
He writes travel books for people who hate travelling. For a while, after an accident, he goes back to the family home where his two dysfunctional brothers and sisters live cut off from the outside world.
Then he meets a dog trainer, Geena Davis who is both wonderfully whacky and vulnerable and a rocky romance begins. As this is a Kasdan film nothing is ever straight forward, like real life really.
Superbly acted by Hurt, Davis and Turner.
He writes travel books for people who hate travelling. For a while, after an accident, he goes back to the family home where his two dysfunctional brothers and sisters live cut off from the outside world.
Then he meets a dog trainer, Geena Davis who is both wonderfully whacky and vulnerable and a rocky romance begins. As this is a Kasdan film nothing is ever straight forward, like real life really.
Superbly acted by Hurt, Davis and Turner.
12 of 13 people found the following review helpful
Format:DVD
When I first saw this film I really liked it, mainly because it wasn't a formula film and I couldn't begin to figure out what would happen next. I hadn't seen anything like this for years: it was like a 1930s domestic comedy - driven by character and dialogue, rather than by action. The film was based on a 1985 Pulitzer-nominated novel by Anne Tyler, (I liked the film so much I went out and read the novel and now Anne Tyler is one of my favourite novelists.)
The actors playing the central characters - William Hurt as Macon Leary, Kathleen Turner as his wife and Geena Davis all give really good performances. Davis's portrayal of whacky Muriel Pritchett won her an Oscar for best supporting actress, but Hurt and Turner, playing a couple traumatised by the tragic death of their young son, are much less 'animated' and more subtle, and totally believable. Indeed Hurt plays his part as though he is sleep walking and still manages to earn our sympathy. The supporting cast also shines, particularly Leary's sister and brothers and Pritchett's young son. Lawrence Kasdan's direction is fairly low-key but brilliantly catches all the nuances of this family saga and the film really deserved its Oscar nomination for best picture.
The actors playing the central characters - William Hurt as Macon Leary, Kathleen Turner as his wife and Geena Davis all give really good performances. Davis's portrayal of whacky Muriel Pritchett won her an Oscar for best supporting actress, but Hurt and Turner, playing a couple traumatised by the tragic death of their young son, are much less 'animated' and more subtle, and totally believable. Indeed Hurt plays his part as though he is sleep walking and still manages to earn our sympathy. The supporting cast also shines, particularly Leary's sister and brothers and Pritchett's young son. Lawrence Kasdan's direction is fairly low-key but brilliantly catches all the nuances of this family saga and the film really deserved its Oscar nomination for best picture.
2 of 2 people found the following review helpful
Format:DVD
By heck! No one says that anymore do they, but after watching The Accidental Tourist it seems the only fitting response.
The film is so weird it almost gets 3-stars just for the curiosity value. William Hurt plays the world's most tedious man; actually the third most tedious since the character's brothers are even worse. His son has been killed and his wife has left him because he drains the life out of her. He shrugs and goes back to work. What does he do? He writes travel guides for people who don't like to travel. So his work is going on vacation and deliberately not enjoying it.
Things begin to change when he meets Geena Davis, an irrepressible dog trainer who invites herself into his life and warms it up. God knows why she wants to. Eventually his wife comes back on the scene and a decision has to be made: a decision - the last thing he's capable of.
The scenes involving the man's editor - played by Bill Pullman - dropping by and gasping at the wonder of the insanely insulated family of grown-up siblings who can't seem to function outside the orderly home environment, have some comedic value. So does the scene where Hurt breaks his leg. For the rest, I think this film could make you want to join the insurgents. Americans who are either annoyingly kooky or pathetically insular. Hurt's character is very frustrating, but one can't deny he's played with aplomb: one breathes a huge sigh of relief when he finally comes to his senses. No doubt this movie helped spawn the now familiar romcoms about ditzy women freeing uptight men (or should we thank Bringing Up Baby for that?) and all credit to Geena Davis for not making her character the sort who's too whacky to be borne.
What should be a good demonstration of the importance of breaking out of familiar patterns did at least give me the resolve to switch off the set.
By heck!
The film is so weird it almost gets 3-stars just for the curiosity value. William Hurt plays the world's most tedious man; actually the third most tedious since the character's brothers are even worse. His son has been killed and his wife has left him because he drains the life out of her. He shrugs and goes back to work. What does he do? He writes travel guides for people who don't like to travel. So his work is going on vacation and deliberately not enjoying it.
Things begin to change when he meets Geena Davis, an irrepressible dog trainer who invites herself into his life and warms it up. God knows why she wants to. Eventually his wife comes back on the scene and a decision has to be made: a decision - the last thing he's capable of.
The scenes involving the man's editor - played by Bill Pullman - dropping by and gasping at the wonder of the insanely insulated family of grown-up siblings who can't seem to function outside the orderly home environment, have some comedic value. So does the scene where Hurt breaks his leg. For the rest, I think this film could make you want to join the insurgents. Americans who are either annoyingly kooky or pathetically insular. Hurt's character is very frustrating, but one can't deny he's played with aplomb: one breathes a huge sigh of relief when he finally comes to his senses. No doubt this movie helped spawn the now familiar romcoms about ditzy women freeing uptight men (or should we thank Bringing Up Baby for that?) and all credit to Geena Davis for not making her character the sort who's too whacky to be borne.
What should be a good demonstration of the importance of breaking out of familiar patterns did at least give me the resolve to switch off the set.
By heck!
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
Lawrence Kasdan has let the silence speak and describe the life of the...
(THE FILM):
William Hurt and Kathleen Turner join Geena Davis, in the bittersweet comedy about a travel writer's unlikely new romance. Read more
William Hurt and Kathleen Turner join Geena Davis, in the bittersweet comedy about a travel writer's unlikely new romance. Read more
Published 1 month ago by S. F. husseiny
The Accidental Tourist DVD
Having read the book by Anne Tyler, The Accidental Tourist, which is excellent, we wanted to try the film. Read more
Published 5 months ago by Justine
I love this film
I've seen it several times and just watched it again over the weekend. Beautifully acted, very moving and also very funny in places. William Hurt and Geena Davis are superb.
Published 7 months ago by Susanne
A gentle, quirky film which deserves to be better-known
Fancy getting away from the froth and clangour of modern-day Hollywood films? This is one for you then, as it is as different from the current tide of so-called block-busters... Read more
Published 8 months ago by Martin Nowers
A Keeper!
This is an old film (1988) but it is one of those films that reward repeat viewing. It is in turns, funny, touching and illuninating of the human experience. Read more
Published 14 months ago by Mary Marsh
Unusual and wonderful - like the book.
You've probably all seen the film - if not, do see it. The scenes with the dog are especially good. William Hurt excellent as usual.
Published 17 months ago by Carla Marx
Brilliant film
I have watched this film several times and enjoy it each time. Decided to use some vouchers and buy my own copy. Great film, excellent characters, sad and funny. Read more
Published on 10 Sep 2009 by Mrs. G. Bedford
Not a patch on the book
So much of the detail of the book was omitted from the film that it really wasn't worth watching. The characters were not developed enough because of this and the true essence and... Read more
Published on 2 May 2009 by P. ROBINSON
Baltimore books
Great movie and book is even better. Set me off on pleasurable trail of reading all Ann Tylers Baltimore series. Favourite so far "Dinner at the Homesick restaurant"
Published on 20 April 2006 by Mrs. S. Mitchell
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