Made in Heaven

A "chick flick" with some thought put into it, "Made in Heaven" reminds us why Timothy Hutton is such a good actor. His wonderful performance in a movie that could have been trite, makes the viewer love the "written-in-the-stars" romance that blossoms on screen. Hutton's character dies and goes to heaven, where he meets Kelly McGillis, who has yet to be born on Earth. The two fall in love and are married in heaven. When her turn to born happens, he convinces the powers-that-be to let him return to Earth and find her. Of course, neither one will remember their love in heaven....and therein lies the rub.

It is unfortunate that I am one of the few people I know who has seen this movie. I count it among my all time favorite films. It has a very different, fluid cinematic style, which I found very appealing. It is wonderfully written, acted, and directed, is very funny and in parts very touching. There are great cameo appearances by musicians Neil Young, Tom Petty and Ric Ocasek, as well as several actors who are oddly uncredited. "What Dreams May Come" was a disaster. "Made In Heaven" is a triumph. I can only hope it will be released on DVD.

Great concept, with at times a great atmosphere. But it's weird, nonsensical at times. With a more subtle plot and more care in execution it could've been a classic but Made in Heaven ends up a bit of a drag and a mess.

At its heart it's an atmospheric romance, which is where it's at its best. But then out of nowhere there will be a bizarre comic sketch which simply doesn't fit.

Really liked it first time I saw it. Not at all second time.

This is my all-time favourite movie - I never tire of watching it and it's not just due to the lovely Tim Hutton!

A beautiful story of soul mates who meet and fall in love in heaven only to be parted and for them to find love (against all odds) again on Earth. Besides the wonderful leads this movie also features such diverse talents as Debra Winger, Ellen Barkin, Tom Petty, Neil Young, Matraca Berg etc. and the wonderful Neil Young penned song "We've Never Danced" sung by the talented Martha Davis.

A film not to miss.

Alan Rudolph's MADE IN HEAVEN is a pleasant, sweet-natured romantic comedy with a twist; the lovers meet in Heaven, after our hero (Timothy Hutton) dies, rescuing a family from a car that plunges into a river. It may seem familiar territory to viewers of Robin Williams' drama, WHAT DREAMS MAY COME, in it's depiction of the afterlife and reincarnation, and the Albert Brooks' fantasy, DEFENDING YOUR LIFE, which also involves a romance in Heaven (in Brooks' case, with Meryl Streep). Without the budget of the Williams' film (which won an Oscar for it's visual effects), or Brooks' occasionally caustic humor about Divine Judgment, MADE IN HEAVEN is a simpler tale, weaving in a theme of predestination between lovers 'meant' to be together, which makes it a perfect 'date' movie.

Hutton, dealing with being dead and in 'Paradise', appreciates the support of his Aunt Lisa (Maureen Stapleton), a long-dead budding painter in a heavenly Paris, but finds that he is lonely, and feels out of place. Then he meets heavenly guide Annie (Kelly McGillis), a new 'soul', who had never 'lived' on earth before, and the pair soon fall for each other, filling both his need for love and companionship, and her's, for an understanding of life, and passion. They marry, after being granted permission by 'The Boss', Emmett (an unbilled Debra Winger, who plays the male role very convincingly!)

Everything seems perfectly heavenly...until Anne's number is called to be born on Earth. Despite Hutton's pleas that the pair were 'meant' to be together, Anne's destiny cannot be changed...but he does convince Emmett to allow him to be 'reborn' on Earth, insisting that the pair's love would bring them together. With the understanding that his new life may not return him to Heaven, Emmett grants him 30 years to connect with Annie...or else.

In true soap opera fashion, the pair live wildly different lives, and have unfulfilling relationships with other partners, while each experiences flashbacks of the true love they had experienced in Heaven. Time is running out, however, and Hutton's 30th birthday is rapidly approaching, without meeting his soulmate...

A modest film, with a great supporting cast (including Tim Daly, Don Murray, Mare Winningham, and Amanda Plummer), MADE IN HEAVEN's theme, that Love truly DOES conquer all, is irresistible.

Grab YOUR soulmate, and enjoy it!