The Accidental Tourist
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Movie Reviews of The Accidental Tourist
Movie Review: He Can Help You Find the Best Burger King in Paris
Summary: 5 Stars
I was in a local Baltimore theatre when I first heard a minor character from the movie, "The Accidental Tourist", proudly announce "Baltimore...greatest city on Earth!" The audience loudly cheered and so began my fondness for this gentle, comedy/drama based on the Anne Tyler novel of the same name.I'm delighted, that this funny, yet emotionally moving film has at long last made it to the DVD format.In the story we meet Macon Leary (William Hurt), a travel writer (for business men who hate to travel), who has basically given up on life, because his young son has been killed in a senseless robbery. Macon has become almost like a 'ghost' going through just the motions of life, emotionally untouched by anything or anyone. His wife Sarah (Kathleen Turner) leaves him because he is not there for her and she needs to get beyond mourning. Alone, Macon seems to be spiraling into a depression without end.That is until, through a series of humorous events (and a very angry dog), Macon meets a quirky, unusually dressed, dog trainer named, Muriel (Geena Davis). Muriel romantically pursues the depressed writer and eventually puts him on the road to joining life again. Screen Writer/Director, Lawrence Kasden has created a emotional film, that has a wonderful sense of oddball humor.The movie has great characters, that are brought to life by a wonderful cast. This includes actress, Geena Davis, who deservedly won an Oscar for her role of the pluckish and romantically determined, Muriel. Davis has created an amusing character, who definitely marches to her own drummer.I can personally attest to the fact, that there are many folks living in Baltimore, who closly resemble her (for more info on Baltimore's more unusual citizens, check out the book "Shock Value" by John Waters). Kudos should also go to actors, Amy Wright, David Odgen Stiers and Ed Begly Jr., who provide big laughs as Macon's rather eccentric siblings.Finally, Bill Pullman gives a good performance as Macon's love lorn publisher, who yearns for an old fashion marriage.The DVD for this film is well done with a fine picture transfer and a good amount of extras. They include an inciteful featurette "It's Like Life", which shows both new and old interviews from the Director and the cast.The DVD also includes the trailer and more then a half hour's worth of deleted scenes, that shed new light on the story and it's characters. This is wonderful film about how you just can't prepare yourself for life. You just got to let it happen!Movie Review: A DVD that does justice to a great film
Summary: 5 Stars
In When Harry Met Sally, or Groundhog Day we follow the characters on a journey of exploration as their relationship develops. Macon Leary, in The Accidental Tourist, sets out on just such a journey, but one in which, as the title suggests, he is at the mercy of unforeseen events - the loss of his son, leading to the departure of his wife, and the misbehaviour of his son's dog, which forces him to turn to Muriel, a dog trainer.They differ in almost every way. He is in his forties, married his first real girlfriend and now writes travel books for businessmen who would rather stay at home; she is much younger, left high school to marry, and since her divorce has to juggle jobs to support a sickly son.
In the reverse of the usual situation, it is she who pursues him, eventually winning him over when, thanks to her sympathetic response, he is able to confess for the first time his anguish at the loss of his son. From then on he is torn between the two women until, on a trip to Paris, he decides the direction of his life for the first time.
Although the spotlight is on these two, we also meet Macon's eccentric siblings who still live in the house where they grew up and follow the equally unlikely romance between his sister and publisher.
The film is faithfully adapted from Anne Tyler's excellent Baltimore set novel. Geena Davis won a well-deserved Oscar as Muriel (and contributes a commentary on selected scenes that reveals how eager she was to play the part). William Hurt had an even more difficult task in playing Macon, a man so repressed that he appears emotionless. Although technically a co-star, Kathleen Turner has to make the best of the lesser role of Macon's wife Sarah.
Amy Wright as Macon's sister Rose catches the quirkiness of her character while avoiding caricature, as do Ed Begley Jr and David Ogden Stiers as her brothers. Bill Pullman's publisher is equally believable. And John Williams proves his versatility by contributing a wistful theme that runs throughout the film.
As well as the film itself, in the original Cinemascope format, the DVD includes a generous helping of deleted scenes, an introduction by director, co-writer and co-producer Lawrence Kasdan, and a featurette with contributions from him and others involved in the making of the film.
This is one of my favourite films, and one that, even after many viewings, I enjoy more than ever. Definitely worthy of five stars.
Movie Review: Deeply Moving and Richly Rewarding
Summary: 5 Stars
William Hurt is absolutely brilliant as a man so damaged and insulated from his own life that he is about to implode in Lawrence Kasdan's adaptation of Anne Tyler's novel, perhaps the director's finest moment.
Hurt is a father who cannot make sense of the random act of violence in which his son has been killed. In so much pain he is unable to comfort his equally traumatized wife, his marriage finally falls apart because he has decided to accept evil in the world and isolate himself from love in an effort to shield himself from further pain.
Bill Pullman gives fine support as his understanding editor and friend. Hurt writes a series of books for the business person who is constantly in flight called the "Accidental Tourist." Hurt's family is a little strange and in spite of the serious subject matter Kasdan has sprinkled this film with some very funny true to life moments. One such episode involves the cooking of a Thanksgiving turkey and is hilarious!
Geena Davis is the free spirit who attempts to connect with him and assuage Hurt's anguish, winning a well deserved Oscar for her performance. Her little boy, sweet and allergic to everything, is a constant reminder to him of his own son, however, prompting him to accept a brief but unsuccessful reconciliation with wife Kathleen Turner which may cost him everything.
Hurt's tremendous performance and an understated score add to this wonderful and heartrending account of one man's personal angst as someone tries to drag him back among the living. One particularly moving scene in Davis' doorway where he expresses his inability to be like other people is absolutely devastating. Her kindness and personal generosity finally begin to wear down the walls, however, and he may just be able to love again, if it is not too late.
This is a richly rewarding film for those willing to take the time and I highly recommend it. It is a testament to our own humanity, the human spirit, and the healing power of love.
Movie Review: Fabulous Movie With Intense Character Studies Throughout...
Summary: 5 Stars
"The Accidental Tourist" Hmmm... even the title of the film has many meanings. Unhappily married couple, Macon Leary,(William Hurt)a travel guide author and Sarah Leary (Kathleen Turner) have just lost their young son Ethan to an accident. Each of them goes through the grief process alone and thus, the marriage is quite dead. They separate, with Sarah leaving Macon in the big, old empty Victorian house alone, save for Ethan's badly behaved dog, a Welsh corgie named Edward. When Edward misbehaves, Macon just can't get rid of the dog because it reminds him of the good times that Ethan had with Edward. So, Macon takes the dog to obedience school and meets a very ecentric young woman named Muriel Pritchett. Muriel is a young divorcee with a very sickly little boy, named Alexander (Robert Hy Gorman in a very nice portrayal for a little guy). Muriel pursues Macon, a sexual relationship ensues and Macon opens up for the first time about his sorrow for Ethan. There comes a time when macon has to decide what he wants as Sarah returns to the homeplace and wants to try again.Amy Wright, David Ogden Stiers, and Ed Begley Jr. all turn in WONDERFUL performances as Macon's odd siblings who live together in the family home that they grew up in. Bill Pullman also turns in a great performance as Julian, Macon's publisher.
This is a wonderful character study of families, their hurt, disappointment and finally, reconciliation. The film is strongly written and well acted. If you are looking for a funny romance like, "When Harry Met Sally", a spooky romance like "Ghost" or a treacly, sappy sweet romance like "Sabrina", then you are looking in the wrong place. If you like to see characters that pluck at your heart strings and seem "oh so real" then this is a movie for YOU! Highly recommended!
Happy Watching!
Movie Review: The Armchair Traveller
Summary: 5 Stars
William Hurt + an allstar cast star in this character study of an overly methodical divorcee and his profession on who traveling buisness men can make their trips as dull as his life is.Seen the movie?You'll understand my review then because I'll speak directly about the characters.Macon (Hurt) and his astranged wife Sarah have lost their only son to a horrible murder and have grown apart.His siblings live in a house together and live a comically over-organized life.Meanwhile Macon is pursued by his BEYOND pushy dog trainer Murial Prichett and is forced to make a serious choice-between his ex with whom his relationship is always tenative or the fresh faced (but I should point out obviously younger) Murial.He chooses the later,if only for the reason she followed him on a trip to Paris (where they end up eating at a Buger King.????).
And as pushy and quirky as she is one actually tends to relate more to Geena Davis's Murial character.Macon Leary comes off as too controlled and insensative and his wife has lost faith in the world due to her loss.The side characters include Macon's
hyper organised sister Rose and her relationship with his eccentric boss Julian (portrayed by Bil Pullman) who proceeds to eat two helpings of Rose's highly undercooked turkey at Thanksgiving.More a slightly ubsurdist character study then a comedy,seeing as nothing really romantic happens and the leading man is actually an (intentionally) pathetic individual
'The Accidental Tourist' stands out heads and tales above todays faceless comedies bogged down with mindless teen flicks and vapid 'chick flicks'.This movie had some intelligence and wittyness to it and with the exception of the wonderful movie 'Amelie' very little is being done in this vein nowadays.