Chances Are
Reincarnation remains among the hokiest and flimsiest of any theological or spiritual beliefs, the concept that all of us amongst the living have led âpast livesâ which in turn compels us to somehow accept the notion that even though we have absolutely zero recollection throughout our current existence of whom we once were (nor can we use such memories to correct any current mistakes), sometimes under some forms of specialized hypnosis, we can at least pretend to piece together a coherent idea of that former incarnation so that everyone can high five each other and move on to some other kooky theories. That being said, the concept can still be applied to cinematic innovations of storytelling and characterization and one of the better examples of that is this 1989 romantic comedy directed by Emile Ardolino who had just directed the megahit Dirty Dancing but whose career would be cut short when he died of AIDS in 1993. Things start off pleasantly enough with the early 1960s wedding ceremony of Corinne and Louie Jeffries. Corinne is played by Cybill Shepherd whom in many ways is perfect casting, a MAJOR female sex symbol of the early 1970s who remained hot looking all the way into the 80s and thus is able to pull off the neat trick of playing her character 23 years apart and still be convincing. Her new husband is played by Christopher âShooter McGavinâ McDonald who ironically is also just right considering his more than passing resemblance to Robert Downey Jr.âs reincarnated version of his character. Also in the mix is the best man (and best friend to both) played by Ryan OâNeal who awkwardly confesses to McDonald at the altar that he too is in love with Shepherd also. McDonald as it turns out is a crusading prosecuting attorney who has just obtained damning evidence against a federal judge for taking bribes from the mob, but before he can use it, heâs run down by a car and left splattered in the street (although the accident is presented as being legitimate and not in any way foul play). Off he goes to Heaven where the dry ice is in full effect, not to mention the overstuffed bureaucracy where when he demands to be returned to Earth immediately, the best they can offer him is to be reincarnated in a new life which sends him running back into the portal without the one key component which is necessary: a âvaccinationâ which presumably erases the memory of his past life and by definition would keep him sane and happy in his new existence. Flash forward 23 years later and McDonald is now played by Downey, a budding young journalist who dreams of working for The Washington Post, but must settle for attaching himself to OâNeal, himself a reporter for that very paper but who nonetheless strikes up an instant kinship with Downeyâs forlorn young cub. Itâs only when OâNeal takes him to Shepherdâs house as a dinner guest and Downey sees his long lost wife (whom in 23 years has never been with another man and continues to insistently worship her late husband) and never before seen daughter (Mary Stuart Masterson) that he suffers full total recall of who he once was and starts maniacally trying to piece everything back together. Downeyâs greatest feat here is in successfully playing a character with a tortured soul for laughs, never sinking into full melancholy since that could potentially depress the viewer but instead going into and staying on full tilt all the way through as he manages to convince Shepherd of who he was (remembering things that only her late husband could know about) and soon she gets caught up in the euphoria of being reunited with her true love albeit as played by an actor who is 15 years younger than she is (and hence the reason why she was a fantastic choice for the role since the romance comes across more as being touching rather than revolting). OâNeal winds up as the one left in the lurch as despite being reportedly one of the most surly, two fisted Hollywood stars ever in real life, OâNeal would get typecast for playing overly passive, wimpy romantics in his films and this is no different, since despite getting what he wanted upon his best friendâs death, he has instead spent the last 23 years acting as a caretaker for Shepherd and Masterson, never confessing his true feelings for Shepherd and hence leaving her wide open for Downey to come along carrying his old buddyâs soul and sweep Shepherd right off her feet. The really awkward part comes when Mastersonâs daughter comes right out and admits that sheâs in love with Downey completely, not realizing that Downey is her dad reincarnated and thus introducing some hints of incest to the mix, putting out there the theory that parental loved ones who die can be reincarnated into being your soulmates to fall in love with and vice versa. Of course, everything is dependent on Downey getting his long overdue vaccination from the bumbling heavenly angel (Joe Grifasi) who failed to do so before he was reborn so that his memory can clear and things can progress along naturally in his relationship with Masterson and Shepherd can finally watch OâNeal grow some balls and admit his longing for her too. But until then weâre in full goofball comedy mode (with a literal parade of recognizable character actors thrown in the mix) and thankfully Downey can carry this type of material with the best of them as he finds himself alone with the hot and horny Masterson only to scold her and tell her that itâs past her bedtime. Then itâs back to him chasing and romancing Cybill Shepherd and even having an impromptu brawl with OâNeal who thinks that Downey is running some kind of a scam on her. It all leads up to a very satisfying happy ending (including the resolution of the corrupt judge subplot) and the reassurance that once Downeyâs mind is at ease, so will be the other characters who at least for a portion of this story got to be reunited (briefly) with somebody whom they all loved as channeled through a younger man and THAT would appear to be the real hook here, the notion that a loved one who has passed on would somehow find a way to make that temporary contact with us in order to let us know that theyâre fine and that everything is going to be alright, a far better cry from the misguided belief that souls are nothing more than so much trash that can just be recycled with little to no benefit to be gained from having it done upon usâŠ
8/10