Just Like Heaven (Widescreen Edition)

0 of 0 people found the following review helpful:

Enchanting, 2008-08-25
This is the kind of movie you wait for and when you find it, relish sharing the discovery with others. It's like Station Agent and 10 Items or Less in this respect, a small movie that should not be missed. On paper, it has absolutely nothing going for it. The premise is beyond stupid, we've seen it in Ghost and elsewhere. Boy meets girl, boy realizes girl is restless spirit only he can see, boy proceeds to become romantically entangled anyway - as if normal relationships aren't hard enough - boy and spirit girl find a way to work through their considerable differences, a whacky good time is had by all.

Just Like Heaven succeeds because of the fine performances by its leads, Reese Witherspoon and Mark Ruffalo - and the wonderful chemistry between them. Despite her elfin stature and lack of curves, Witherspoon has on screen presence that is simply undeniable. From Walk The Line to Legally Blonde and many others, she has demonstrated an amazing ability to romance the camera with what can only be called likeability, charm, and openness. Where Witherspoon is relentlessly chirpy - ironic, since she's the one more or less dead - Ruffalo exudes a damaged, soulful empathy. We've seen him in this mode before, for example, in My Life Without Me, another treasure. Ruffalo is a truly extraordinary actor that makes the extreme silliness of this situation totally compelling and believable.

The improbability of how these two meet - isn't every boy meets girl scenario improbable? - plays out slowly and gently until they begin to believe in one another and care about - and for - each other. The process is so slow and gentle one barely notices it. By the time it's happened, we care about them too. All film relies on suspension of disbelief, this one asks a lot - but Witherspoon and Ruffalo make it easy for us to buy into, relax, and enjoy it. Very nice cameo by Jon Heder of Napoleon Dynamite fame, presumably he is doomed to a life of parts like this, but that's better than pumping gas.

Some will dismiss this as a "chick flick", but I think that's unfair. It's well crafted, the performances are stellar, and it's thoroughly charming from beginning to end. This one you owe to yourself.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

TWO LONELY PEOPLE FIND LOVE, 2008-08-03
It is really the kind of movie which make you feel good in the end. A light romantic comedy with two very nice protagonists who have real chemistry!! And you root for them to be together in the final scene! Cheers to love and delightful romantic movies!! Watch it if you believe in love... and if you don't believe, never mind, it will act like a good and effective medicine to grumpy people...

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

IT is HEAVEN because: Touching Love Story + Funny scenes/dialogues + Some Twists + Life-After-Death background., 2008-07-14
This movie is Heaven! It's a touching love story. It also has many funny dialogues and scenes. There are some good twists. The life after death back ground has some surprising ideas that I've never seen in any other movies before.

I like it so much that I bought it. It's one of my two of Best Love Stories of All Times. The other is Ghost staring Patrick Swayze.

2 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

My absolute favorite movie ever, 2008-07-09
Just Like heaven takes everything good about a romantic comedy, adds some new twists, and results in an amazingly perfect movie. You really can't help but fall in love with Elizabeth and David's romance! The film is visually beutiful (that garden!) as well as moving, adorable, and funny. And yes, it deserves all of those adjectives. Trust me- buy, don't rent this movie. It'll be the best $9 (price at the time of this writing) you've ever spent!

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

Excellant, 2008-07-06
This is really a delightful romantic comedy. Very well written. Quite different from the usual run of romantic 'ghost' stories. Interesting twist. Highly recommend.