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Chances Are
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Directed by Emile Ardolino
Handsome young Washington attorney Louie Jeffries (Chris McDonald) has it all: a promising career, a beautiful wife, and a baby on the way. But after discovering a local judge is in cahoots with the Mob, Louie bites it in a car crash and finds himself in Heaven. Unsatisfied with the customer service he's receiving, Louie jumps the gun and gets himself reincarnated -- before being administered the magic injection that will remove his memories of his former life. For the next quarter-century, Louie's museum curator wife, Corinne (Cybill Shepherd), remains true to her husband's memory, ignoring the frustrated devotion of Louie's best friend, Philip Train (Ryan O'Neal). Meanwhile, Louie's soul grows up in the body of Alex Finch (Robert Downey Jr.), an aspiring journalist. Alex's memories of his life as Louie return after he becomes romantically involved with Miranda (Mary Stuart Masterson) -- the daughter he never got to meet. Soon, Alex/Louie is romancing his wife, spurning his daughter's advances, and frustrating Philip's attempts finally to woo Corinne. Written by Mystic Pizza scribes Perry and Randy Howze and directed by Emile Ardolino of Dirty Dancing fame, Chances Are didn't score as well at the box office as those earlier comedies. Its soundtrack, however, generated the hit Peter Cetera and Cher ballad "After All." ~ Brian J. Dillard, All Movie Guide
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Review by All Movie Guide
All Movie Guide
is neutral about it.
This bubbly update of afterlife fantasies such as Death Takes a Holiday, Carousel, and especially Heaven Can Wait finds the ideal stars in Cybill Shepherd and Robert Downey Jr. With the razor-sharp comic timing she honed on TV's Moonlighting and the wacky zeal he exhibits in basically all of his roles, Downey and Shepherd invest Chances Are with just enough tongue-in-cheek self-consciousness to sell the material to modern audiences. The screenplay, by Perry and Randy Howze, has lots of fun adding a bit of bawdy sex appeal to this traditionally prim and proper genre, while Dirty Dancing director Emile Ardolino keeps things moving quickly enough that the seams don't show. Forced to play it straight, Mary Stuart Masterson and Ryan O'Neal don't get to have as much fun as the leads, but a fine supporting cast -- including L.A.Law veteran Susan Ruttan and old pro Fran Ryan -- generates plenty of chuckles. A sweet fable about honoring love's memory while getting on with one's life, Chances Are didn't earn the box-office returns that its stars and director might have expected. Still, it's dated much better than many '80s comedies and remains a charming rental or cable choice. ~ Brian J. Dillard, All Movie Guide
 

Community ratings

mavens
Spout mavens
lost interest.
most people
Most people
lost interest.

Other opinions

RedLondon
RedLondon
loved it.
trosman5
trosman5
loved it.
awkwardj
awkwardj
loved it.
usesoap
usesoap
is not interested.
mercurial
mercurial
is not interested.
lopezdash
lopezdash
is not interested.