Customer Reviews

Forces of Nature [VHS]

5 star:		(17)
4 star:		(26)
3 star:		(16)
2 star:		(10)
1 star:		(7)

 

 

In "Forces of Nature," Ben Affleck stars as Ben, a repressed, buttoned-up stuffed shirt writer who, through a series of natural and manmade mishaps, ends up spending the several days before his impending marriage in the company of a freespirited, totally spontaneous and liberated young woman named Sarah, played by Sandra Bullock.

For the vast majority of the film's running time, the screenplay follows the conventions of the opposites-attract scenario almost slavishly. The script even provides Ben's fiancee with an overly-convenient replacement in the form of a now-hunky childhood friend she has not seen in years who rekindles sparks with her on the eve of the wedding.

Thus, with the troublesome fiance conveniently out of the way, the stage is set for the predictable true love romantic finale. But, damn, if the writers don't pull the rug out from under us and shatter the time-honored cliche. This is particularly surprising because, up to now, the film has exhibited no trace of iconoclasm in either its plot or character development. In fact, the screenplay is less a full-fledged narrative than a series of photographic montage sequences strung lazily together as Ben and Sarah engage in one cutesy situation and encounter after another. Thus, the unconventionality of the resolution comes as an even more stunning surprise than it otherwise might.

Affleck and Bullock are very appealing as two young people who complement each other's strengths and weaknesses and who learn to offer one another valuable life lessons. "Forces of Nature" emerges as one of those rare films that is, perhaps, actually better in retrospect than in the watching.

That's the point of this movie--2 people who shouldn't be together, but who teach each other something along the way while also learning a lot about themselves.

Why is it that every time Sandra Bullock goes beyond the cutesy "While You Were Sleeping" format (which I admit to loving), she cops it? She's fantastic as the likeable Sarah who doesn't see just how likeable she is, and learns to accept herself during the journey. Ben Affleck is a stiff? He's *supposed* to be, and that adds value to the film, especially his embarrassment at having to peel 'Sarah' off the floor of a K-Mart they're sheltering in. And then there's the striptease in the gay bar--gorgeous.

Obviously I was looking at it from a different angle, because I thought Bullock & Affleck had a lot of chemistry going on and played off each other nicely. Combine that with a great support cast, especially Steve Zahn as Affleck's best friend, and Moira Tierney as his fiance, and you've got a great, fun flick. It deserves 5 stars for recognizing that there will always be temptation--how we chose to deal with it is the ultimate test of character.

Okay, the script is not the most imaginative I've ever seen, but I like the actors (especially Ben's best man) so I was friendly with this movie for the most part. I didn't even mind the obvious holes in the plot, such as...why do these characters not have credit cards or cell phones? Or at least, why don't they use them? Oh no, much more plausible that Ben will have to strip dance in a gay bar for $150 to buy a car to drive to NC. I didn't even mind the fact that the whole "We're married and my husband's a doctor." charade was so predictable. Oh Gee, he's pretending to be a doctor and he's on a tour bus with a bunch of elderly people. D'ya think someone might have a heart attack and "Dr. Holmes" might have to step up? And uh, they're pretending to be married and Oh! surprise there's the best man and maid of honor! D'ya think they're gonna get busted?

What killed it for me was that ridiculous ending. It was obviously supposed to be a surprise (and it was) but there seemed to be no other reason for it than to pull a fast one on the audience. I felt cheated. I spent the entire movie getting emotionally involved with the relationship between Sarah and Ben, and I really cared about how they would handle things with the fiance and Sarah's little boy and all that. I cheerfully became disengaged from the relationship between Ben and Bridget, I totally believed neither one of them was ready to get married or right for each other. The film spent an inordinate amount of time showing me they're not right for each other and that this wedding was not meant to happen. RIGHT UP TO THE LAST MOMENT, we think he's breaking it off with Bridget. Instead, what the heck let's just go ahead and get married after all.

Huh? He left Sarah sitting out there waiting for him in a HURRICANE!!! after making her promise that she would still be there when he got back. This man obviously doesn't have a clue what he wants in life, and I'm expected to believe they lived happily ever after?

Not only that, but what does it teach us about taking this commitment seriously? It teaches us that if our instinct is telling us "don't do it!" and our genitals are yearning for someone else and even Mother Nature seems to be working hard to prevent this marriage, aw heck go on ahead and do it anyway. It's just marriage. It's romantic! You could get lucky and live happily ever after!

It's been my experience, when things aren't feeling just right as you approach that wedding, turn and run. The last thing you should do is close your eyes, grab your balls and take the leap.

If you've seen one you've seen them all. Uptight guy by chance meets quirky girl, she brings him out of his shell.

Well, I bought this for like two dollars, and maybe it was worth it. I watch it like once a year. No special features on DVD worth mentioning.

Ben Affleck is getting married, he has to fly down to the south from NY for the wedding. But things keep getting in his way. Forces of Nature. Also, he keeps running into, and can't seem to get away from, some weird chick (Bullock). Are these signs? Should he stop being so uptight, and go with this free-spirited chick? Or should he be an adult and get married and accept his Vanilla lifestyle?

The acting in this movie is "meh", meaning Sandra has the same personality that she has in every movie; and Affleck sucks, as usual. The other small parts are well done, for the most part.

The script is formulaic, and the cinematography at times is interesting. It's just another rom-com where the whacky girl brings the uptight guy out of his shell. The movie opens with a stripper scene, no nudity. There is also a pot-smoking scene in this movie. There is also a scene where Affleck strips at a gay bar. Just thought I'd throw that in, in case you're considering buying this for your teen daughter or something, and that kind of thing bothers you.

You only need to buy this is you are a rom-com fanatic, or a big fan of either Affleck or Bullock. Otherwise this is completely forgettable.

I love watching Sandra Bullock - in anything. But the character she played here felt like it pulled her image down and I felt sad. She was excellent as an actress here, but i just don't like the person she played. I did not like her lying about Affleck being a doctor; did not like how she took a bath oblivious to how that might affect her travel mate, or how she got mad and walked out when Affleck's wedding party saw him in the pool with her - she knew what the whole situation was; why get mad at Affleck for being caught in it? I understand she came from a hard background, and did what she felt she had to do to survive, but I like seeing her in roles where she has integrity and principles - like Miss Congeniality and Blind Side. It just was not believable that Affleck and she would fall for each other - be intrigued with each other perhaps, or learn something from each other. I did not like Affleck's character either - immature, unprincipled, impressionable, impetuous. The movie had nice aspects but nothing came together right. All the actors/actresses were excellent -I love Blythe Danner; it was not the acting; not even the directing. I guess the story was unappealing and some vague sense that this was all wrong. There was no opening of the heart, no transfomation, no beautiful life lessons learned. Lots of yelling and low life stuff and hurt feelings...I turned it off before the ending because I could not deal with the idea that one of the women would be so hurt and I did not even want to know. Wish I had not seen it.

I'll spare the plot summary since there are already 72 reviews as of this writing so I'll write on the jist of the movie. Remove all the unrealistic scenes and this movie is basically a good conversation piece for you and your lover (wife, girlfriend, whatever) because it has to do with choices in relationships. Yes, the movie will reflect the basic sentiment prevalent nowadays regarding marriage which is basically that a successful one is a crap shot. But for those who have been run over by that train before we all know that relationships are work.

So jumping from partner to partner when things don't go the way you thought or want them too and you decide that you're "not happy" just doesn't really work for the average person. All you end up doing is carry your emotional baggage to the next relationship as Sarah's character slowly unfolded. Bottom line is that Ben went through a classic infatuation episode but in the end he did the nobler thing.

If you think that marriage is going to be a perpetual dose of dopamine that will leave you elated and euphoric every day of your life then think again. You have to both make it work and keep reminding each other of what brung you together in the first place before the kids, in-laws, and career.

As for the best acting, Sandra Bullock took the prize. I enjoyed seeing her free spirited bohemian side. She basically made Ben look good.

Ironically enough though, this movie was done before the Beniffer drama - remember that? He basically had the "forces of nature" in the form of paparazzi to help him walk away from that one. Not exactly the same ending as in this movie.

I disagree with virtually all of the reviewers about this film. It was touted as a comedy and "outrageously funny". Well it wasn't overly funny and it made a real effort to be funny but the "funny" scenes were so obviously forced and so obviously dumb that they just came across as stupid. Finding a rental car is not that difficult and that is the basis for this movie. I can't believe that anyone is as stupid as these people were supposed to be. Bullock is supposed to be a free spirit but she comes across as immature, undisciplined, and self absorbed. This was a total waste of talent and Affleck and Bullock did their best but why people of their abilities agreed to appear in this film is a mystery. I think what put me off of this film is it's totally unrealistic view of marriage. Of course these are all Hollywood types where any marriage lasting longer than a month is viewed as unusual. This film would have you believe that every marriage is at its core -- unhappy and that most people are divorced or adulterers. Men and women are unhappy with their partners and anyone who gets married should expect to be unhappy -- that is the message here, but it is also how most Hollywood types view marriage. Beyond that we have the usual Hollywood view that EVERYONE smokes Marijuana or takes drugs of some sort -- EVERYBODY DOES. Well I don't think so and I thought this film was simply not funny and I don't see anything humorous about being arrested for drugs. At no level was this film realistic and none of the actions were logical or believable (imagine holding an outside wedding even though hurricane flags are flying -- is anyone really that stupid?) I gave this film 2 stars only because I watched it to the end -- why I have no idea because it wasn't worth it.

Forces of Nature, was a bit of a disappointment, considering the makeup of the cast: Ben Affleck and Sandra Bullock among others.
The movie sheds light on a man en route to Savannah, Georgia, for his wedding. On the way he meets a woman who will have a tremendous effect on him, changing his whole approach to life. Thus, the trip ends up being quite "bumpy" and with quite a few unexpected "twists and turns..."
The plot has elements of both comedy and drama making it rather difficult to label it as one or the other; it's actually a bit of both.
The acting is pretty good (but nothing great), while the plot and the dialogues are just about average.
In addition, this movie does not seem to be Sandra Bullock's type of film. Even though she is a wonderful actress, this role was not really for her and thus she is not that convincing in it.
Though the potential for a great movie was definitely there it fails to take off. A shame really...
In a nutshell, it's an ok movie, and that's about it; it lacks that extra something to put it over the top. No masterpiece here.

The traveling plot seemed like a take-off of 'Trains, Planes, and Automobiles' - traveling from NY to Savannah vs traveling from Chicago to NY. Same sequence: airplane delays, then train occurrence, then bus, then jalopy-type car. But, since I totally enjoyed the Steve Martin movie, I also enjoyed 'Forces of Nature'. The writer even threw in some weather and fire, same as 'Trains, Planes, and Automobiles'. Because of the similarities, I rated it four stars instead of five.

I thought the movie was cute and I like both Sandra Bullock and Ben Affleck. I saw the movie as being typical of infatuation with a good-looking person to whom we've been thrown together with for a brief unlikely encounter and of indecisiveness prior to the marrage ceremony , but Ben was, indeed, committed to his fiance and to his future, which was a positive attribute on his behalf.

Unlike some other reviewers who stated commitment was void, I felt it was very much stated in this movie, in spite of other's around them having their own relationships fall apart.

Sarah's life was to be her son and her relationship with him - to build it up after some years of absence. The movie ended correctly. Everyone got what they wanted.

Gail Gupton, Author: The 31-Day Diet of Spiritual Enlightenment and Seekers of Truth.

Ben Holmes, a pretty regular guy, is on his way to his wedding. A little accident hinders the takeoff, and soon Ben finds himself in a third person's rental car together with eccentric but attractive Sarah. Several catastrophic incidents later, the two are thought to be a married couple and run into Ben's best friend and his girlfriend, who happens to be the bride's best friend. Now, Ben and Sarah have to face the problem that they really might be made for each other, but they also might just be panicking about the upcoming events: His marriage and her first meeting with a special person. This movie is very entertaining and not particularly predictable. There's good acting, lots of interesting developments, and a very good story. A nice movie, with enough humour and charm to entertain.