Recensioni degli utenti

It seems on the surface to be a romantic _planes, trains and automobiles_ but at times tried for something more, where it failed miserably. Some may like the nontraditional ending, but the attempts at "deep insight" into the world of marriage flopped around not really going anywhere.

But if you were interested by the story, the movie tried other methods to distract you. The unnecessary special effects, of which the falling rain was the most obvious, served to do nothing but annoy. The camera-work is erratic at best.

One note of caution, however. My movie experience as a whole was less than satisfying, sitting in the first row with a group of young'uns around...

This movie seems as if someone had a cute idea for a movie, thought of two or three funny possibilities, hired a good cast, then turned the whole thing over to a really bad screenwriter and even worse director. The director filmed a screwball romantic comedy as if it were a dark, artsy film---weird camera angles, blue filtered shots, lingering, close up looks at raindrops. Steve Zahn was good, as always. Ben Affleck was charming, sweet, almost shy; he was perfect for a romantic comedy. Sandra Bullock struggled along valiantly with a character who was supposed to be zany, but whose wackiness consisted of things like madly kissing a husband she hated, abandoning her child, going on carnival rides, offering to strip for money, and bumming a ride with a fellow airline passenger. The script had very few funny lines; there was no physical comedy; it was boring. It introduced potentially funny situations, then cut them off before they could develop. To top it all off, the "twist" at the end was a slap in the face to anyone expecting a fun romantic comedy. If you saw the trailer for the movie and liked it, as I did, my advice is: don't go to the movie. It will only spoil a nice trailer.

I cannot imagine anything that would be more fun than taking a road-trip with Sarah Lewis (Sandra Bullock). That is why I really think this film is worth watching. Ben Holmes (Ben Affleck) got something that very few of us ever get to experience - a couple of days with someone who will truly liberate us from our staid conventions and open our eyes to a world that we never knew even existed.

Working with the developmentally disabled, I have to constantly remember that I cannot say they don't want to live or work or do something until I have exposed them to that opportunity and let them make an informed choice.

How many times have we made choices without knowing all the opens - or even that there are options. Ben got the opportunity to make an informed choice. I am not saying I would have made his choice, but he knew what he was doing.

Don't watch this movie looking for a comedy, even though it is funny; don't watch it looking for romance, even though there is plenty to see; but watch it to open your eyes to another world and ask yourself if your world is really what you want.

The basic story is of Ben (Ben Affleck) is getting marries to Bridget (Maura Tierney) and has to put up with a batcher party. It has its complications and this is just the beginning. The bulk of the movie is how Ben has to overcome complicated travel plans that go awry. To add to the complication, he keeps being thrown in with a strange woman Sarah (Sandra Bullock). The question is will he go astray with this exotic woman or hold true and make it to the wedding on time?

The "forces of nature" may be a double entendre; they go through storms and a stormy relationship.

The fun in this movie is we get a chance to think "what would we do in the situation?'

I firmly believe Ben Affleck is a gifted actor. But this is no Dogma, no Good Will Hunting...hell, even his role in 200 Cigarettes is more memorable. Ben proves the age old theory that the best actor in the world does not a good film make. Basically, the story is horrid. The script is horrid. Add that to the fact that I can't stand Sandra Bullock (scrawny and one-dimensional) and that makes an awful film. The upside? Maura Tierney's really cute and I really like Steve Zahn. That's about it. The story is absolutely ridiculous; why do writers feel the need to overdo and over-dramatize *everything*. Excessively melodramatic (the shining light through the hurricane onto Affleck and Tierny made me gag) and excessively unbelievable. I hate it when 'everything goes wrong' films don't leave any room for reality. Every five minutes some new mishap or disaster happened, and they were usually awkward and eye-rolling. And when a little bit of story actually started to take place, it was interrupted by yet another misadventure... And the film was *way* too loooooooong!! Nearly two hours of non-stop schlock. Could've chopped an easy 20 minutes off of it. Overall, I'd recommend a pass on this one. There are some really cheezy sentimental films out there that are still enjoyable despite any excess or melodrama. This isn't one of them. If it didn't have a decent cast or one or two mildly amusing scenes I'd rate it even lower, but as is: 4/10.

I read the user comments and was reluctant to view this movie. Well I'm sure glad I went against the crowd. This is a good movie! What more could you ask for. (Sandy is great) The scene I adored is when Sarah is beckoning Ben to come and dance. If a women ever did that to me I would run to her. I really enjoyed the ending but I won't discuss that. There were enough laughs to keep it lite and enjoyable. The gay bar was a real hoot. Ben did a superb acting job doing his dance all be it Sandy does'st hurt the eyes. The one thing I liked is this movie is not a tear jerker. Most of Sandy's movies have me shedding tears like a water works. The story line surely shows that people live their lives in very different ways and that gives the movie credence. What's to not like? Easy to follow has Sandy in it what more could you want? One criticism, what did they use to put on sandy's eye makeup on a putty knife?

Sandra Bullock portrays an artificial character desperately trying to exude morality and being free spirited soul while crying all the time about her lying, deceiving and uncaring past... Ben Affleck portrays a confused, undecided, insipid jerk who cannot make up his mind or decide for himself... Steve Zahn's talent was wasted... other characters are lousy and forgettable at best... the movie completely fails to be either romantic, or comic, or funny, or serious, or inspirational, or emotional, or absolutely anything... EXCEPT... A TOTAL WASTE OF 1 HOUR 45 MINS!

This is a review of the DVD version of "Forces of Nature".

My wife and I rented this movie because we like Sandra Bullock, especially, and also Ben Affleck. We didn't have high expectations, except to be entertained. And we found it very entertaining and not particularly predictable. Affleck, the prospective groom, has to make his way to Savanna in two days after a plane problem, complicated by an arriving hurricane. He meets up with the ditsy Bullock, and both of them learn quite a bit about themselves.

If you watch the special features on the DVD, Bullock explains how every one you meet, even short "chance" meetings, have some impact on you, and this is a large part of what the movie tries to convey. And it does it very well. There's good acting, lots of interesting "developments", and a very good story in total. I give it 7 of 10. It is a much better movie than I expected.

The DVD picture is very well done, and the sound track likewise, with appropriate use of the rear surround channels. My only complaint? Not enough bass rumble during the lightning and thunder scenes during the storms.

July 2010 update: Saw it again, a pretty entertaining movie with a good message.

May 2020 update: Ditto.

FORCES OF NATURE / (1999) **

"Forces of Natures" is a romantic comedy that gradually builds for a presumably happy conclusion, but completely disregards its momentum in the end, making this movie a hypocrite of itself. Although advancing through this story is sometimes amiable fun, the ending results are forgettable and pointless.

The movie's entire story is a series of uncanny coincidences ranging from heart attacks and drug busts to robbery and fires. Book-jacket blurbologist Ben Holmes (Ben Affleck), is becoming married to his fiancée, Bridget (Maura Tierney), in two days. At his bachelor party in New York, a stripper excites his grandfather into cardiac arrest. Ben stays with his relative a little while then catches a flight back to Georgia where Bridget is waiting.

Ben meets a young woman making out with her romantic interest at the airport. This woman, the pretty Sarah Lewis (Sandra Bullock), later ends up sitting next to him on the plane. Ben is a very nervous flyer, and when his flight crashes before it leaves the ground he becomes even more profoundly afraid of flying.

He and Sarah buddy-up with a man at the port hitching a ride to his wedding destination. This man turns out to be a criminal, however, and is busted with the unlikely pair in the car with him.

Many more events occur keeping Ben away from his wedding location. Such circumstances include a train wreck, a striptease, and mistaken identity. His parents (Michael Fairman and Janet Carroll), are not happy with his findings or state of affairs.

The film's conflict is getting Ben from New York to Savannah, Ga. to wed with his fiancée. No recent structure complicates its initial problem as clearly as "Forces of Nature," imaginatively written by Marc Lawrence. The gradual increase of passion between Ben and Sarah makes for rich romantic chemistry, although there is none developed between Bridget and Ben. "Forces of Nature" concentrates on creating chemistry with Sarah and Ben, but never with Bridget. I did not know what to believe. Is Ben in love with Sarah in which he has known for only a few days, or is his heart with his eagerly waiting to wed fiancée?

Lame conversations featuring Ben and Bridget on a bed videotaping themselves enhances what little character development present. Such lame dialogue present includes "I'm scared" and "It's the rest of our lives." Why doesn't the movie show us how the two characters feel about marriage instead of explaining it?

"Forces of Nature" contains an interesting style, consisting of neat camera effects, scenes cut short, believable cinematography and jaunty soundtrack numbers. Some of the film's style is over the top, however. There is a magical hailstorm sequence that plays like a music video on MTV. And most of the film's laughs come from witty one liners, not the many incidences of stylish film making.

Ben Affleck and Sandra Bullock are the right choices for Ben and Sarah. They bring forth effective performances thanks in part to stylish directing and cleverly written dialogue. Most of the final segments of the second act are spent on Ben making a decision between spending his life with Bridget or Sarah. Though the entire second act is wasted anyway in the manner this movie concludes itself.

"Forces of Nature" is a movie too silly for serious romantics and overly thought-provoking for audiences looking for a good laugh. Teenagers may identify with the film's glossy look. But for most viewers, this is just a music video with plot.

Plot In A Paragraph: Ben Holmes (Ben Affleck) a professional book-jacket blurbologist, is trying to get to Savannah for his wedding. He just barely catches the last plane, but a seagull flies into the engine as the plane is taking off. So he is forced to hitch a ride with an attractive but eccentric woman named Sara (Sandra Bullock)

Ben Affleck and Sandra Bullock make an attractive romantic pairing, and have a certain amount of chemistry. Michael Fairrman Bridget Thurman, Moira Tierney, Steve Zahn, Ronny Cox and Richard Schiff are all good in supporting roles. The plot moves a long at a good pace, their are a few laughs to be had and the ending is a surprise too.

I don't understand the hate that Affleck gets, as I usually enjoy his movies that vary in tone, style and subject matter drastically 'Company Men' or 'Armageddon' 'Argo' and 'Hollywoodland' or the (what I consider the under rated 'Jersey Girl' I enjoy him in all of them.

As for Bullock, she remains one of the most talented and beautiful women in movies, and her ladylike sexiness is in rare supply. Any movie becomes promising just by having her name in it's cast.

Ben Affleck, about to be married, is shaken up by a plane accident and gets involved with Sandra Bullock, one of the other passengers (in raccoon eye-makeup to show us that she's a little crazy). Star-vehicle is an inept, ugly morass, one so badly edited that I'm surprised one Mr. Craig Wood actually accepted a screen-credit. Is there any chemistry between the leads? No, but then the movie doesn't concern itself with creating chemistry. Director Bronwen Hughes and screenwriter Marc Lawrence are all about the situation set-up--never mind that the situations themselves aren't funny. Affleck winds up in a gay bar, which promises to be amusing, and the scene would have gotten a laugh if only the writing and directing weren't so wrong-headed (the bar patrons--a big rowdy bunch of them!--shout for Affleck to strip and start digging out their cash). It's a minor bit, but also an indication that the forces behind "Forces of Nature" were hack talents trying to be edgy but not having the guts. It is tailor-made for insomniacs. Winner at the Teen Choice Awards for Choice Hissy Fit. * from ****

I take on board all the criticisms cited here about this film and I accept that most of them are justified, but I have to say that I had an enjoyable hour watching it (missed the first 20 minutes... cooking my tea). Yes, it is clichéd, the plot has been done many times before, the script is often disjointed and has more holes than a Swiss cheese, the characters are left half painted, the actors are playing to type (though that never hurt Bob Hope, Cary Grant, Carole Lombard, etc., etc) and elements of the story seem to be largely superfluous (the most egregious example being the climactic hurricane); but it is a romantic comedy... and I found it both romantic and gently funny in places. The weaknesses in the script and the editing can't be laid at the casts feet; and they perform really well. Sandra Bullock and Benn Affleck's romance isn't the most believable you'll come across, but they do work well together and have the chemistry needed to carry the heavily flawed plot.

It also should be noted that very little in the story is believable; so much so that, at one point, Affleck and Bullock arrive at a bank where Ben Affleck is due to pick up some money that will enable them to get to Savannah, only to find the bank engulfed in flames. They turn to each other and laugh at the sheer improbability of it all; it's as if the characters are momentarily saying to the audience, "yeah! we know that you know that it's all so fantastical and contrived... so don't worry, it's meant to be". Lazy script writing or a foray into the realm of magical realism? The former I suspect, but the film obviously set out to have a fairy tale quality about it, and it has enough charm, wit and warmth to compensate for the holes in the script. Sadly many of the comical shoots do seem to inexplicably wither before they get a chance to bear fruit, but the comedy is without exception well-played by the cast. It just needed tighter scripting.

I can't believe it has such a poor rating on IMDb - it has many faults, but I was contented to spend an hour-and-a-half watching Sandra Bullock looking lovely and being charming and witty on screen. Compared to so much of the exploitative, clichéd, adolescent, emotionally empty, fantasy violence out there that gets higher ratings, 'Forces of Nature' is Palm D'Or material... maybe it's rather naff title hasn't helped it...

A man (Ben Affleck) sets out to fly from New York to Savannah to be married to his bride (Maura Tierney), but circumstances compel him to use other means of transportation with an attractive, but screwy traveling companion (Sandra Bullock). Will this new relationship and their misadventures change his plans over the course of the next two days?

I'm a sucker for road movies and Affleck is great as the principled protagonist, but Bullock's character, Sarah, is so erratic she becomes seriously irritating by the midpoint that it's hard to see how anyone would find her appealing, at least as a possible lifelong companion. Thankfully, the sights are interesting and the pair's mishaps are amusing enough (although I feel the script needed a rewrite to flush out better prospects). In addition, the last act is actually ballsy and totally changed any negative feelings I had. The movie's not really anti-marriage; it just shows the awful truth and potential glory. In other words, it's realistic and balanced.

What's funny is that Roger Ebert expressed outrage over the climax and called it smarmy. All I can say is he didn't 'get' it because it's not disingenuous at all. In fact, it's revelatory; and wholly fits. I don't want to say anything more because I don't want to spoil it. Reflect on the key points and everything makes sense.

The film runs 1 hour, 45 minutes and was shot in New York City, Washington DC, Virginia, Tennessee, South Carolina, Georgia and Florida. Steve Zahn is on hand as the best man.

GRADE: B-/C+

Affleck and Bullock play mismatched travelers to Savannah, Georgia; he, to his wedding, and she, well, she has her reasons. The two have zero chemistry together; Steve Martin and John Candy had a lot more in the similar-themed Planes, Trains, and Automobiles (1987), which was a lot funnier as well. Even a scene where Affleck dances in a gay bar, which has potential for laughs, falls flat. At least Steve Zahn, as Affleck's best man, is funny. A waste of time and talent.