SHANNON URTNOWSKI
Staff Writer
Reese Witherspoon got it all right in her newest film “Just Like Heaven.” It has been a little more than a year since Witherspoon last graced the theaters in 2004’s “Vanity Fair,” but “Heaven” has been worth the wait.
Witherspoon is back on screen with rising star Mark Ruffalo (“13 Going on 30”) by her side. The two stars dominate in this suspenseful, yet touching, romantic comedy. If you were expecting another cliché chick flick, you will be pleasantly surprised. Macho guys will enjoy “Heaven” just as much as sentimental girls do.
“Heaven” is much more than the simple love story of boy meets girl (dead girl that is). The relationship between Elizabeth (Witherspoon), and David (Ruffalo), is much more complex. As viewers quickly find, the “spiritual” connection between the two characters leads to suspense, uncertainty and humor — laugh-out-loud humor like that found in this summer’s break-out hits, “Wedding Crashers” and “The 40-Year-Old Virgin.”
“Heaven” quickly captivates the viewer. Elizabeth is a young, aspiring doctor driven by compassion for her patients and by her hopes of becoming a staff physician for a large San Francisco hospital. As admirable as her goals may be, Elizabeth lacks balance in her life. She is a lonely person, always pushing aside romantic relationships for fear of interfering with her career. As Elizabeth tells David, “When I think about my life, all I can remember is working.” After Elizabeth meets David, she suddenly realizes all she has missed out on in life, including love.
Leaving work one night, Elizabeth becomes the victim of a fatal car accident. Following the accident, David rents Elizabeth’s apartment.
Not accepting death, Elizabeth’s spirit returns to her old apartment and takes up residence. Elizabeth confronts David and demands an explanation for his presence. The two struggle with their peculiar situation, but they soon learn to accept one another.
The film is both funny and dramatic. David, a lonely architect coping with the loss of his wife, is the only person who can see Elizabeth. He is already struggling to convince his friends that he is mentally sound, but his friends become increasingly concerned as David tries to convince them that he is being haunted. Eventually, David and Elizabeth try to help each other accept the awful fate that has befallen them.
David tries to help Elizabeth accept the afterlife — which she refuses to do, not believing that she has died. Elizabeth tries to help David accept the untimely death of his wife. As they help each other, love and enlightenment blossom between David and Elizabeth. Each learns to ultimately accept and deal with his and her life or death, as the case may be.
John Heder, the notorious star of “Napoleon Dynamite,” steals the film as he plays Darryl, David’s spiritually experienced acquaintance. Heder’s character acts goofy and laid-back, true to his Napoleon persona. Not surprisingly though, Darryl is actually the only character who understands exactly what is going on throughout the entire film.
Heder is outstanding, funny and at ease in this film.
Ruffalo is another “Heaven” character still relatively new to the big screen. He stands up remarkably well next to the accomplished Witherspoon. “Heaven” is definitely one of Witherspoon’s stronger roles — she is both believable and lovable in her ghostly role.
“Heaven” is an enjoyable film that should satisfy all viewers. Even men who manage to look past their predisposed notions of this film will find a winner. Anyone with an open mind can enjoy this film. The constant twists and turns in the plot will have viewers on the edge of their seat throughout the picture. Go ahead and take a chance on “Heaven.”
09-22-2005
