Hello Again

I don't know why so many people have slammed this movie in the comments section. I have seen this film numerous times and find it hilarious and Shelley Long adorable. No, this is not a film that requires a lot of deep thinking and analyzing, but it's not supposed to be. It's a light-hearted, romantic comedy that achieves its goal -- it entertains you, makes you laugh and touches your heart. It need not try to do anymore than that. Shelley Long, Judith Ivey, Gabriel Byrn and Sela Ward all give great performances, as does the rest of the supporting cast.

Shelly Long has proved herself to be very versatile in comedy. While this is not a complicated movie -- nor one of the best acted, it is one of the best acted that Shelly Long has done. The story is simple, but one that I'm sure most people have dreamed about. "What would happen to my family if I no longer 'existed'." A perfect world is not available in life -- or death, but on the screen it works. Even though it won no awards for acting, I find that it is one of the most entertaining movies I have seen -- one that needs to be added to a personal library, along with one of Shelly Long's funniest movies to be seen: Troop Beverly Hills.

The stage curtains open ...

I've been catching up on films from the years of my youth that I never got to see. Tonight's viewing was the 1987 comedy, "Hello Again", starring Shelley Long in the starring role. Shelley Long was in her prime and probably at the height of her career during that time, so this movie poster was a fairly common one to see in the video rental stores. It only took me 38 years to see it - and unfortunately, the wait was not worth it.

The story is about Lucy Chadman (Long), the accident prone and clumsy wife of a very successful plastic surgeon, who is having a hard time finding her own identity in a world where she does not belong. She has a sister who is into the occult, and when Lucy chokes on a meatball and dies, her sister brings her back from the dead exactly one year later. She finds the world has changed, her husband has moved on to another marriage, her son has gotten married as well, and she is dealing with the idea that she really was dead, though she can't believe it at first. With the help of another doctor, she finds a way to accept and move forward with her 2nd chance at life.

So yeah ... she is basically resurrected. On the surface, this film is polished and with a solid saxophone featured 80's soundtrack. Shelley Long is her usual charming and inviting self, and the movie had all the earmarks of a comedy. The only problem is that it really isn't that funny. It should've billed as more of a drama, but even on that level, it doesn't score either. Simmering underneath is an uneasy "weird" and "unnatural" feel to it that permeates every scene. She died. This isn't like the film "Chances Are" where he was reincarnated as another person. She comes back as herself, like nothing happened.

I was expecting there to be some sort of morality tale to this, a bittersweet ending where she had to accept the reality of her situation. No ... nothing like that at all. This one just didn't sit well with me. Shelley Long was fun to watch, but as a story, it doesn't work. And the ending was just too cute and tied up for me. I wouldn't recommend this movie. It was just "okay". Not good, not bad ... but not really worth the time spent to watch it either. Highly forgettable.

Hello Again isn't getting the recognition it deserves.It's a funny relaxing movie that does indeed leave you sighing with contentment.It always does for me. It's about a housewife, Lucy Chadman married to an upscale doctor and is unhappy with her present career and comes to an untimely end while eating a south korean chicken ball. Her wacky sister Zelda dabbles in magic and manages to bring her back to life. Now Lucy must piece back her life with help from her handsome doctor and find true love within the next full moon or she has to go back. The movie is memorable because of the quirky story , Gabriel Byrne's admiring eyes for Lucy and the nonstop comedy.

Don't listen to most of the reviews, this movie is definitely worth watching!

my rating: 10/10!

There is a lot in this movie that is fun to watch, fresh, charming, original and could not have been made with any other cast.

Shelley Long won me over with this film. I was never a big Cheers fan but this made me wake up and take notice of her. She has been underutilized in Hollywood because she isn't outrageous...but that's everyone's loss.

Judith Ivey is another great talent with which Hollywood has no idea what to do. Her charm and kookiness in this film lets her shine.

The rest of the cast has a great deal of chemistry and is cast well for their broad characteristics.

Please don't listen to others - - there are hundreds of other movies that deserve to be reviled and vilified more than this. Sure it's predictable -- How many movies aren't???

The concept is enjoyable and I predict that some bimbo-star of the future will remake this and it will be fabulously popular. People will flock to see it just because of the bimbo and then finally THIS movie will have had its vindication and will be eulogized -- pardon the pun.

Just see it. It's fun.