Forces of Nature Review
by Chase McCown (moviefan79 AT aol DOT com)April 1st, 1999
FORCES OF NATURE Review
by Chase McCown
Material may not be copied or used without the written consent of the author.
CAST: Ben Affleck (Ben), Sandra Bullock (Sarah), Maura Tierney (Bridget). Rated PG-13 for language and one instance of drug use.
Ben Holmes has a wedding in Savannah to get to...his own. Getting from New York to Georgia has never been so difficult. To start things off, his flight is cancelled when a bird flies into the planes's propeller. Then, as plot development would have it, there are absolutely no rental cars available. Naturally, he hitches a ride with a complete stranger named Vic, and ends up in jail as a result. He gets on the wrong train, has no money for a bus, etc, etc. He begins to wonder if he is supposed to be married, given the disasters that have occured in such a short time. Are forces of nature really trying to show him that marriage is not his destiny? Do destiny and luck even exist? And why does it seem that every married couple is really unhappy?
During this voyage, Ben is accompanied by fellow sojourner Sarah Lewis, who just so happens to be heading towards Savannah to visit her family. The two meet when they are coincidentally next to each other in the airport. Ben is uptight, anal retentive, matter-of-fact, and strictly by the book, whereas Sarah is free-spirited, spontaneous, daring, and care free. How do such opposites attract? Could it be forces of nature?
On his way to the wedding, Ben feels that certain signs are telling him not to marry his longtime girlfriend Bridget. While Bridget waits for Ben back home, she is tempted by an ex-boyfriend and frustrated by her constantly-feuding parents. Will Ben and Bridget get married? Will Bridget stay with her ex-boyfriend? Will Ben and Sarah fall in love?
While I will not give away the ending, I will say that this movie is very entertaining and quick moving. I am usually not a fan of Sandra Bullock's work, but this movie certainly does redeem her. And I am also impressed with the usually serious Ben Affleck in a much more light-hearted role.
I would recommend this movie not just as a date movie. There is a certain Trains, Planes, and Automobiles feel to the flick, which provides constant comic relief. Romance usually takes a back seat to plot development and amusing situations in Forces of Nature, which makes the movie more appealing.
Before your theatre is struck down by lightning or blown away in a tornado, run and see Forces of Nature. As Sarah said, "We guarantee you a really good show."
My rating (scale of 1-10, 1=awful, 10=flawless):
Forces of Nature receives an 8
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Chase McCown
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