Happy Accidents
Happy Accidents
R | 25 January 2000 (USA)
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A comedy that pays tribute to the science fiction genre -- specifically, the sub-genre of time travel. But here the alternate reality is contemporary New York City where past and future experiences of trust, commitment and denial are cleverly put to the test. Just as Ruby is beginning to relish her first-ever healthy relationship, Sam begins muttering about being a time traveler from the year 2470.

Reviews
Spoonatects

Am i the only one who thinks........Average?

Invaderbank

The film creates a perfect balance between action and depth of basic needs, in the midst of an infertile atmosphere.

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Bea Swanson

This film is so real. It treats its characters with so much care and sensitivity.

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Gary

The movie's not perfect, but it sticks the landing of its message. It was engaging - thrilling at times - and I personally thought it was a great time.

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tieman64

Brad Anderson's made a number of good, low budget features. This one, "Happy Accidents", stars Marisa Tomei and Vincent D'Onofrio as a couple who fall in love, break up and get back together. Sounds formulaic? Here's the neat part: D'Onofrio's character may or may not be from the future and may or may not be mentally unstable.Shot almost entirely in Brooklyn, "Happy Accidents" utilizes a grungy, urgent style. The film does well to keep us guessing as to whether or not D'Onofroi's character is insane, and several of the film's mysteries have a fine resolution.While more psychodrama than comedy, the film does have a number of witty lines. It's core idea is also rather funny: just when Tomei, who has had limited romantic success, finds Mr Right, he turns out to be completely nuts. Or is he? 7.9/10 – Worth one viewing.

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Superunknovvn

"Happy Accident" has a good cast. Vincent D'Onofrio and Marisa Tomei shine in the leading parts. The direction is also good and shows a promising Brad Anderson. What's not so good is the pacing of the whole thing and the story itself. It's an unusual combination of genres, one has to admit that. Sci-Fi meets romcom, not too many movies have pulled that off successfully so far. "Happy Accidents" is quite funny and intriguing at times, but mostly it just moves on way too slowly and uneventfully. The story borrows a lot in style and substance from "La jetée" and "Somewhere In Time" and apart from the lack of originality there are also hundreds of logical plot holes in the script. You can ignore those and enjoy the movie for its good performances and the dedication of everyone involved or you should prepare for a decent movie with a lot of flaws. "Happy Accidents" is definitely recommendable for fans of Brad Anderson, but it's not what I would call an early masterpiece. Just an interesting little indie flick, that's all.

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terrylipford

I was surfing through TV channels when I ran across the start of this movie, and it was the Cable Company synopsis of the "man from 2477" that kept me watching initially.However, as the plot moved forward, I began to really enjoy Marisa's dilemma, is this guy for real, is this guy crazy and what does she do about it.I really enjoyed the little twist at the end of the movie ! I have no doubt that many people who do not take the time to watch this movie with an open mind, may well think that it is just another kind of "romantic problem" kind of movie - and it is in part exactly that. But the way in which the "man from 2477" is continually having to explain himself, coupled with Marisa's attempts to determine whether or not the guy is for real, or just crazy, give the movie a humorous yet interesting sub-text.I also found it interesting to see the "bug man" from "Men in Black 1" in a more normal context !

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Ed Uyeshima

I actually think this 2001 low-budget, indie film has a quirky charm that's hard to resist, and credit goes to director/writer/editor Brad Andersen's singular film-making style. It's ostensibly a contemporary love story between two misfits, but he laces the plot with science fiction elements that seem contrived at first until they start to affect the characters tangibly. The irony is that these far-fetched plot developments are what make the movie resonate emotionally. The two people at the center are Ruby Weaver, a single woman with an unfortunate track record of enabling men to meet her lowest expectations, and Sam Deed, a stranger from Dubuque who may be either mentally ill or a time traveler from the year 2470. Ruby is immediately drawn to Sam's sincerity but when he confesses to coming from the future, she inevitably feels like she is recycling old behavior by trying to save him from his delusions.It reminds me a bit of John Carpenter's 1984 "Starman" (where an alien takes the form of a woman's dead husband) and a touch of Hal Ashby's 1979 "Being There" (where an insulated gardener tries to make sense of the world around him). However, Anderson puts his own idiosyncratic stamp on the movie by making Sam's seemingly insane assertions credible and Ruby's attraction alternately frustrating and empathetic. The acting by the two leads helps considerably here. Suffering from premature Oscar ejaculation, Marisa Tomei has slowly recovered her acting credentials, and this performance is among her best as she dexterously brings out all the hesitation and vulnerability in Ruby. As Sam, Vincent D'Onofrio tempers his trademark intensity with a genuine sweetness that makes his child-like wonder believable. Holland Taylor effectively tones down her sassy persona to play Ruby's impervious therapist, while Tovah Feldshuh grounds the film with warmth and sensibility as Ruby's mother. The ending is clever with a nice use of stop-motion photography, even if it felt slightly derivative of the legendary "Star Trek" episode where Bones is stopped from saving a peace-loving missionary (played by Joan Collins, of all people) about to be killed. This one is more infectious than you may be assuming from the set-up.

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