Of late I have been watching a slew of “old” movies. Some
have been good (despite dated filmmaking); others proved me right in having
steered clear of them. The reasons for that are varying but one that was most
prominent was certain content in movies that usually ruins the good in movies,
the other being some of them were old enough that my mom didn’t want me to see the
title at its release. This wasn’t one I sat down to watch on ClearPlay, but I
did find myself having one evening when I didn’t have to consider what everyone
once else wanted to watch, and since I was in the mood for something new and
never has watched this one (even though I have an old VHS copy of it!), I
decided to go the old-fashioned route and pop it into a… VHS player! (Yikes!
That sounds really outdated.)
Buddy Amarel (Ben Affleck) lives a life of luxury – and that
is how he intends to keep things. He is successful in his advertising business
and enjoys the nationwide traveling perks that come with that. While awaiting
his flight at O’Hare, he meets Greg – a family man whose only wish is to make
it home to his wife and two small children, the only problem is,
weather-related cancellations and Greg is on a layover. Wanting to spend the
evening with his latest tall beauty, Buddy offers to switch tickets when the
weather improves, putting Greg on his evening flight and leaving Buddy to take
a later flight. Everything is set and it seems a benefit to both strangers. The
following morning Buddy learns of the terrible accident… the fiery crash that
brought down the passenger plane… killing everyone on board.
Instead of dealing with his guilt, Buddy loses himself in
alcohol for a good year before he begins a quest to find Greg’s widow – Abby
(Gwenyth Paltrow). He promises himself he is going to ease his guilt by meeting
her and possibly helping her. When he finds Abby, she is struggling with the
burdens of being a single mom and balancing a real estate job – all while telling
people that her husband divorced her because it is easier than the truth. Buddy
gives her financial assistance from a business transaction but the more he
knows of Abby, the more he wants to befriend the widow of the man he all but
murdered. It’s the one secret he’s guarded closely… and the one thing Abby
knows nothing of.
Going into this one, I really wanted to like it but instead
I came away with feelings of meritocracy. Logically I know it is because of my
uncomplimentary thoughts about nineties and early millennium era filmmaking.
Now some ten years later, it is so outdated that it’s painful. From the picture
quality to the clothes (particularly those that Abby wears), everything is
almost laughable. I expect average productions from the forties and fifties –
purely from lack of modern technology but to watch something from my own
generation that comes across as wanting is just… weird. Having said that… Bounce does offer its audience a tender
story about loss and healing.
For two characters in a story, Buddy and Abby are likable.
They develop a sweet friendship that starts out more awkward than promising (realistic
on her part and understandable on his) but the fact that their entire
relationship is based off dishonesty makes it a little bit harder to root for
their eventual romance. Buddy’s guilt and feelings of responsibility were not
meant to extend as far as they did with Abby but he finds himself drawn to her,
and she in turn finds she cannot just write off what she sees as a “chance
meeting” with this man she barely knows. The movie doesn’t focus enough time on
the budding relationship between them to make it come across as possible that
what eventually drives them apart would hurt as much as it does – it didn’t
seem like their relationship should have progressed to that kind of love. Bounce isn’t likely to become my
favorite romance story by any means but it has a few sweet spots (like a scene
at the water park), and given time and subsequent viewings I think it will be
one I may come to appreciate more.
(The film is rated PG13
for one sensual scene of two people caressing one another in a state of
undress and kissing, and one unfortunate use of the f-word. There is also the
implication that one character has engaged in multiple one-night stands [we see
him lying in bed with a woman once, sheets appropriately placed]. Milder uses of
profanity are also present.)
I haven't seen this in years, but I remember liking it. =)
ReplyDeleteI definitely think I'll watch this again because I've a feeling it will come across as more likable to me in a 2nd viewing. (Perhaps first I should get/rent the DVD!)
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