Chasing Destiny

Cute, funny and bitter-sweet with an enduring message about life and love of all kinds: this film has it all. Casper Van Dien is thoroughly charming as "Bobby Moritz," the beleaguered romantic lead. He shows a wonderful sense of comic timing throughout the movie. Roger Daltrey is huggably adorable as the whiskey-voiced Nehemiah, the long-time pal and band-mate of 1960s rock star Jet James (Christopher Lloyd). Daltrey adds a great sense of humor to the film, a nice change from the far more serious roles he's taken on over the years. His character cements this wonderful ensemble cast and provides an anchor to link the dramatic and comedic plot lines, all of which is carried off without a hitch. The romantic entanglements are realistic yet mystical in nature, in keeping with the "Age Of Aquarius"-like feel which unites the main characters. Like the best of old Hollywood films, every single performance is important to the plot and all are well performed. It's a shame that Hollywood doesn't make more clever, romantic, multi- generational films of this kind. It's a pure joy!

The plot is great. I loved Laureen Graham - she's always fun to watch. But Casper Van Dien...well, I don't think so. For me he was the biggest flaw of the movie, as well as his character. A guy, macho type, writes poetry (bad one) and is much too feminine. Not believable. His character made the whole story superficial. Another thing that bothered me was Jessy spending the last night of her father's life with another guy, thinking about her father but that was it. She hasn't seen him in 3 years, she came to L.A. to be with him, yet she spends her time looking for the cat, cooking for the date,... That would make sense if she and her father were fighting, but they're not. She loves him, he loves her and yet he spends his last night with his best friend and she with a lover. So much left unsaid and no one bothers to change that. Not believable again. I think it's a waste of a great plot and cast (with exception of Van Dien) on a below average movie.

This movie will make anyone who sees it not only get belly laughs...but cry as well. Van Dien is in top form as the charming phone solicitor who unknowingly falls in love with the daughter of a dying rock star whose vintage Mustang he is attempting to confiscate for non-payment. Lauren Grahame (of TV's "Gilmore Girls") exchanges hilarious one-liners with the offscreen Van Dien ("Moritz...rhymes with ----!). Funniest scenes ever...from the look on Van Dien's when confronted with his boss pointing a pistol at his head to when he walks, rather stiffly, out to perform his duty; Van Dien searching through his mailbox with thick padded gloves for snakes; Van Dien joining Grahame in a quickly soaking Mustang during a rainstorm. Most touching scene...Van Dien (in a Sgt. Pepper jacket and bath towel) revealing to the dying father who he is and requesting to court his daughter. All in all, a touching and hilarious film.

Anyone who has rented more than two videos knows that you can't always rely on the words on the back of the box to give you an accurate description of the movie within. So this time you'll get a nice surprise. This is not a big splashy movie. There is one short, funny chase, but no car chases, and although there are a few guns in evidence, no one comes anywhere near getting shot. This is what you might call a relationship movie, moved along by scenes involving lovers who may (or may not) be separated by deception, a parent and child trying to patch up a, well, patchy relationship before it's too late, and old friends just trying to survive in a world they've almost outlived. The cast works well together and makes you hope that everything will turn out well for all of these characters.

Casper Van Dien as the writer turned repo man turns in a performance that is smooth, funny, sexy, charming, and even subtle. Johnny Rico a romantic quoting Swinburne? Tarzan writing poetry? Well, yes. It works. Bobby Moritz may have a slick side, but you believe that he can be redeemed by love. Back To The Future's wild-eyed crazy man as a cranky but toned-down and ultimately lovable retired rock star? Well, yes again. After all, he's dying, he's not supposed to have the nutty professor's manic energy and purpose, and Christopher Lloyd shows that he has more gears than over-the-top. Roger Daltrey is almost unrecognizable, but still likable, as a seventies leftover who has neither cut his hair nor lost his talent-or stopped drinking-and Lauren Graham as the woman Bobby may (or may not) be destined to love forever plays sassy but vulnerable very well. The only scenes that are funny are the ones that are supposed to be, everything moves right along, you can actually care about the fate of the characters, and the ending jam session is a blast. A charming and funny love story-just like the box says.

I love this movie! I've watched it a couple of times now, and who'd have thought Roger Daltrey would turn out more sexy than Casper Van Dien! I just wish there had been more of the music. I played the ending over and over, listening to the songs. The love story was sweet and funny.