Cinema (May 1999)

Spot Light

Forces of nature

 

Shortly before his wedding, Ben Affleck has to deal with several natural disasters - and with Sandra Bullock

 

No matter what adventures cinema-heros may have to survive, before the end credits show up a couple will kiss. That’s not different here too, there's only the question: who will kiss whom?

At the beginning it all seems clear for the burgeois Ben: next weekend he will marry Bridget, the daughter of a wealthy family. Indeed, he feels some last doubts: can a marriage really make happy? His grandpa says no, his friends say no, but all these urging people are living in tight relationships. Hence, Ben thinks it can't be so bad and so he leaves for a journey from New York to the province of Georgia.

But then everything, even nature itself, turns against his road to marriage: Ben's airplane doesn't start, he gets arrested, his railroad car gets uncoupled and finally a hurricane rises up. However, the biggest desaster whatsoever hits him in shape of Sarah. Instantly the excentric girl messes up the Control freak with her impulsive nature. Both couldn't be more different but nevertheless something special evolves between them. Love? Ben doesn't trust the whole thing, he always wants to flee - but somehow he doesn't succeed.

Under the easy handed stage direction of the former commercial maker Bronwan Hughes, this lovestory turns into an amazingly funny roadmovie. And by the way into a for Hollywood conditions rather sincere story about love between loyality and the greed for life.

And of course in the end there is a couple.

 

Volker Marquart

 

© 1999 by Cinema

 

translated by Marko von der Heide