Customer Reviews

Heaven Can Wait [VHS]

5 star:		(35)
4 star:		(13)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(2)

 

 

Recently I watched the new DVD release of a classic favorite Heaven Can Wait. Twenty-three years after it's screen release, the delightful Warren Beatty film still has the power to enchant and make me smile.

Beatty is superb. Julie Christie is wonderful. Dyan Cannon hasn't changed at all through the years and is as beautiful now as she was then. The entire cast brings the story of a brand new angel who wanted to "save" Joe from so much pain at his death that he brought him out of his body early. Yes, the angel killed him. This angel's first assignment shows the mistakes any beginner can make, of course the ramifications are larger. Joe would not have been between the crashing cars.

Joe refuses to go to heaven; he wants to be returned to his body -- but it has been cremated. Reviewing many body-replacement opportunities (of those who died, but the death was undiscovered) he ultimately sees Farnsworth. He wasn't that interested in being an out-of shape murder victim, until Julie Christie, who has come to demand that her small town be spared a refining plant that would destroy them, comes to the Farnsworth estate in her regal fury that Joe says, "Yes! I'll be Farnsworth. Temporarily." The screen sizzles with romance (rather than today's explicit scenes) as angel Joe is smitten.

To the delight of audiences, Beatty tries valiantly to be Farnsworth, but finds it impossible because he has a basic good-hearted nature while Farnsworth was more interested in making money. Follies and surprises follow Joe in his new life, but it was temporary and the murderers are still lurking.

I do believe a scene was cut, and perhaps several. There was a scene where's Joe's new idea to advertise his tuna canning never kills "thinking fish" or porpoises and charged one or two cents more per can. In the original movie I believe they showed the amazing results as grocery stores everywhere sold more of his tuna than any other brand.

Still, it is a feel-good five star movie, whether a scene was cut or not.

Do you ever feel guilty for enjoying a film? Perhaps you're just a little reluctant to admit you like it... Okay, I admit it I like "Heaven Can Wait". And this, despite the fact that it stars Warren Beatty who's performances usually make me want to weep, even in comedies. All I can say is that he really shines in this film. Mind you, he is helped tremendously by the supporting cast.

I was particularly taken with Julie Christie in the role of Betty Logan, a passionate environmentalist who has taken on a mission to stop industrialist Leo Farnsworth, (Beatty), from destroying a small community in England. Little does she know that Farnsworth died a short time before she met him. Leo's earthly role had been assumed by an unlucky footballer by the name of Joe Pendleton, snatched from life by an overzealous angel during a road accident.

If any of this sounds familiar, you may be remembering the original use of the story in the 1941 film, "Here Comes Mr. Jordan", starring Robert Montgomery. Short of Farnsworth being named Bruce instead of Leo, there is little to distinguish these two versions from one another. Even so, I prefer the 1978 version. It just seems to have more charm, more innocence.

It also has a touch of class, mainly due to the presence of James Mason, in the role of Mr Jordan, who has to step in and try to make thinks right with the prematurely breathless Joe. Joe is understandably miffed at his mistreatment since he and his team were due to play in the superbowl, Joe's one dream. Mr Jordan offers Joe a number of alternative routes back into the mortal realm. Each path involves taking on the life of a soon to be dead person. Sadly, nothing short of a star quarterback seems to satisfy Joe who eventually settles for a test-drive on the Farnsworth model; rich, powerful but not particularly athletic.

From that point on we are taken on a twin journey. On the one hand Joe, despite his new-found wealth, still has super-bowl ambitions. The first step in his plan is to buy his old team. The other path is prompted by the passions of Betty Logan. Farnsworth has to straighten up his corporate image to impress his new lady-love. This is not an easy task given the long list of atrocities his board is quite happy to see continue.

I suppose some of the attraction in the story comes from its reversal of our common dreams. Usually we dream of leaving our lacklustre existence and jumping into the swimming pool of the rich and famous. In this case, Joe does get the pool but he just wants to get his old life back. He is too good-natured to be trapped by the false idolatry offered by money.

We have the fun of watching him struggle back into his old shoes and take his disbelieving associates with him. In fact, his old coach Max Corkle, (Jack Warden), is one of the hardest to convince but eventually becomes one of Leo's/Joe's biggest supporters. Which is typical of the film. The story is fun but it's the character's friendships that keep us watching.

Great movie, poor treatment by Paramount.

Beatty plays Ram's quarterback Joe Pendleton, recovering from a knee injury as he works his way back into a fight for the starting job, then unfortunately rides his bike into a tunnel but doesn't ride out the other end. We soon find out that he was destined to survive the accident, but was "taken out" by practicing angelic entity played by Buck Henry before the laws of probability and outcome could determine Joe's fate. An appeal is issued to management in the form of the magnificent James Mason as Mr.Jordon, who is left with the task of finding Joe a suitable body to make his return to earth in after we find that Joe's body was cremated before we could work out all the red tape at Heaven's departure terminal.

In the very small "What If You Died and Came Back" genre this is hands-down the best of the bunch. Beatty gets credit for bulking up for the role and amazingly has no credibility issues with the casual audience as an aspiring pro QB with eyes on a shot at the Super Bowl. His natural comic timing and comfort zone chemistry with Julie Christy make this film a real keeper. The contributions by deadpan Charles Grodin and the freneticly delicious Dyan Cannon wiil have you howling in laughter.

Now the bad news. Paramount gets no props for this DVD release. The colors are there, but some scenes actually look like they'd been colorized with others blurry, dark, grainy, and out of focus. As if that weren't bad enough, the audio is frequently out of sync...you know, when the spoken words dont match with movements? I found that rather maddening in spots. The sound is OK but there's nothing but dialogue and clarinet music so who cares. Dont look for extras, they're not there.

5 solid stars for the movie, 2 pitiful stars for the DVD.

I was six years old when I saw this film in the theatre and was instantly affected. When it was over, I knew my life's ambition. To become a saxophone playing football quarterback, and fall in love with a beautiful English girl. Well, I never played football or anything more musical than the kazoo, but I still love beautiful English girls, with Christie at the top of my list. I won't go into detail about the plot of the film, other reviewers have done that and mine would pale in comparison. I'll just say that this is a funny, easy film to like with Beatty giving his most mannered comedy performance, with able support by the always funny Grodin, the hit and miss Cannon (who's very on here) the enjoyable Warden and the great James Mason. Add to all this the fact that Julie Christie alone makes any film watchable for me, and I think it's clear that I'm not the most unbiased of reviewers. But still, I love this movie.

Before Warren Beatty decided that everything he does needs to be a political commentary, he used to be an actor who appeared movies that attempted to entertain people. If Heaven Can Wait is a fair representation of his talents, then it's a shame he didn't more of this kind of thing because he is really quite good at it. As Joe Pendleton, he is imminently likable but also quite strong willed and intelligent.

The story has been rehashed in many reviews so I'll skip the details here but suffice to say that it is fairly unique and very well-paced. The entire cast is perfectly chosen from the courtly James Mason to the hysterical Dyan Cannon to the lesser know Buck Henry... all seem like they were born to play their parts. The film is both funny and engaging, you will defintely be anxious to find out how it ends and that alone speaks well for the film. Heaven Can Wait gets my highest recommendation and I can only dream of a day when we see a romantic comedy with this level of intelligence again.

After revisiting this Beatty masterpiece, I agree with everything in the other reviews. This is in my top 10 movies and definately number 1 or 2 in romantic comedies.

I must mention the musical score by Dave Grusin. Although Grusin has done tons of great stuff, for some reason the haunting melodies of Heaven Can Wait have always stuck with me through the years. Absolute perfection! I don't believe a soundtrack CD is available, but Grusin has revisited the themes from Heaven Can Wait on his "Cinemagic" (full orchestra) and "Now Playing" (solo piano) CD's. I highly recommend both.

Beatty hit a home run with this one...the writing, acting, directing and cast all perfect. The great soundtrack is just icing on the cake. Enjoy!

This has to be one of the nicest films which Warren Beatty has ever been in, and such a likable character, too. He plays the role of a football star who dies suddenly, and is later re-incarnated into another life. Of course his essential character is still the same, and he tries to continue on in his quest to win the Superbowl (a game which he failed to win because of his sudden demise).

There are so many wonderful parts of this film. Jack Warden is superb as the coach who has to be persuaded that it is, indeed, Warren Beatty, and he goes a long way "in faith" to accept it as true, especially in light of the fact that Beatty has entered into the body of a very wealthy man, and the team doesn't want to have some "rich guy" owning the team.

Then there are the "angels," James Mason and Buck Henry, and they are equally good as well, although I can't say I'd buy into seeing real angels look like them. But they are inspiring, in a quirky kind of way.

Last of all, the "love interest" with Julie Christie, and I have to admit that this a film which majors on romance, without the sex, language, and other deleterious side effects of modern day film making.

"Heaven Can Wait" is a great classic film, and you would do well to add it to your collection. A Marvelous soundtrack as well. Highly recommended!!!

Heaven Can Wait is a remake of Here Comes Mr. Jordan. In the original Joe Pendleton is a boxer but in this film Joe Pendleton (Warren Beatty) is a quarterback for the LA Rams. While riding on his bike he is hit by a truck. He awakens at a weigh station but refuses to board the jet to heaven. His escort (Buck Henry) refuses to believe that Joe is right and calls his supervisor Mr. Jordan (James Mason). They find out that Joe is right and the escort is ordered to return him to his body. But the body is cremated. Mr. Jordan and Joe start looking for a substitute body. (This is a hilarious sequence.)

They settle on Leo Farnsworth, a world famous industrialist, who is being murdered by his wife, Julia (Dyan Cannon) and secretary, Tony Abbott (Charles Gordin). As Leo, Joe is a total disaster. He has no idea of what Farnsworth's company does or how to run it. But in the clutch he comes up with some very interesting ideas.

During the process he meets Betty Logan (Julie Christie) whose village in England is going to be razed to build a refinery. He decides to save her village and marry her. (Despite his current marriage.)

Next he decides to get in shape and become quarterback for the Rams. He contacts his old pal the team trainer Max Corkle (Jack Weston). He tries to explain to Max what happened. (This is a totally manic scene.) Max is finally convinced and they start to work to get him in shape. But using the staff to scrimmage is not working so Joe buys the Rams.

As everything starts to come together for Joe, he is told that his temporary arrangement has come to an end and must give up Leo's body. Joe refuses but Julia and Tony's latest attempt succeeds.

A new body is found, Tom Jarrett, the Rams starting quarterback. Joe as Tom wins the Super Bowl. Everything is now fine so Mr. Jordan returns to the weigh station and Joe's memories go with him - well almost all do.

This is a fantasy film (Rams winning a Super Bowl while in LA!) and it works very well on this level. Warren Beatty has chosen two co creators to facilitate this. Co writer Elaine May is known as a great comedy writer and she worked perfectly with Beatty. Co director Buck Henry is known for his farcical touch - he created the smash it Get Smart. Having these two collaborate with Beatty was a great stroke of genius.

Dyan Cannon steals the show as the unfaithful wife. She hits every comic note perfectly. When she needs to go over the top, she does. When she needs to be subtle, she is. The rest of the cast is also perfection.

This is a great comic farce that you'll enjoy from many vantage points.

DVD EXTRAS: None

Rarely has a story been this whimsical and fun. I own an old, OLD, VHS tape of this and am on the brink of replacing it with a DVD. I saw the original film a long time ago, and (not meaning to cast any negative opinions) remember nothing about it except that it felt heavier and more disjointed. This version is peerless- from the comic, slightly neurotic turn of angel (and co-writer) Buck Henry, to the extremely neurotic, over-the-top performance of socialite wife Dyan Cannon. Her scenes with Charles Grodin ("yes, Mr. Farnsworth") feebly trying to hide their affair are hysterical. The best moments are with the genteel, easygoing James Mason and trainer Jack Warden (a nice guy who I always felt got short-changed at the end of the film). There's also a certain magical quality felt when hearing the line (used several times throughout) "there's nothing to be afraid of." In fact, there isn't.

This is in fact the third best film of all time. Hate to say it, but it is a fact. By far, it is the best romantic comedy. Warren Beatty is so good at light comedy, and he surrounds himself with great character actors. Dyan Cannon, Charles Grodin, Jack Warden, Buck Henry and especially James Mason. It is a little dated now because of the hairstyles and fashion, but the story is much better than a lot of stuff out of Hollywood now. Football for guys, and romance for girls. Something for everyone.