Product Details

• Actors: Richard Dreyfuss, Holly Hunter, Gena Rowlands, Danny Aiello, Laura San Giacomo
• Directors: Lasse Hallstrom
• Format: Subtitled, Dolby, NTSC, Widescreen
• Language: English (Dolby Digital 2.0 Stereo)
• Region: Region 1 (U.S. and Canada only. Read more about DVD formats.)
  
• Aspect Ratio: 1.85:1
• Number of discs: 1
• Rated: R (Restricted)
• Studio: Universal Studios
• DVD Release Date: June 1, 2010
• Run Time: 115 minutes
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (54 customer reviews)
• ASIN: B0003JAO7C
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #21,350 in Movies & TV (See Top 100 in Movies & TV)
• Learn more about "Once Around" on IMDb

Editorial Reviews

Richard Dreyfuss and Holly Hunter lead an all-star cast in this critically acclaimed tale of life, love and chance. Jilted by her boyfriend, Renata (Hunter), the oldest daughter of a close-knit Italian-American family, falls in love with Sam (Dreyfuss), an abrasive and forcefully charming businessman. But neither her spirited sister (Laura San Giacomo), her down-to-earth father (Danny Aiello), or her supportive mother (Gena Rowlands) can tolerate Sam's often obnoxious intrusion into their family circle. Aggressive and overwhelmingly generous, Sam proceeds - with only the best intentions - to disrupt and nearly demolish Renata's family. Love, humor and forgiveness go once more around as the Bellas try to balance Renata's happiness with their family's survival in this funny and often touching story, directed by Lasse Hallstrom.

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

31 of 34 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars One of the most overlooked films! September 29, 2003

By Kevin Stafford

Format:VHS Tape

This is a true gem of a story about love and family. Richard Dreyfuss, Holly Hunter and Danny Aiello should have all been nominated for oscar's for their incredible performances in this quiet masterpeice. If you don't shed a tear and feel better about your life after watching this film. You are missing emotion. What surprises me is why this has never gotten released on DVD yet! Buy It! Rent It! Watch it! and "Fly To The Moon"!

19 of 20 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Once Around Deserves one more time around July 1, 2001

By Greg Brunello

Format:VHS Tape

What a great film. Holly Hunter and Richard Dreyfus shined in this movie. I have seen this film at least 10 times and every time I cry. What a beautiful love story.

20 of 22 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Rich and lusty with life March 19, 2004

By Carolyn Sutter

Format:VHS Tape

A cast of Richard Dreyfus, Holly Hunter, Gena Rowlands & Danny Aiello would be hard to beat. Their characters are all richly expressed. Richard Dreyfus plays a wonderful role in this film and he does it with a fascinating lustiness. It is my favorite of his many excellent portrayals and one of my favorite movie characters. This film is perfect for a story of family, for romance and both can't-take-my-eyes-or-hands-off-of-you new love and matured love and for a plot that you can't forsee which carries you headlong through joy and sadness and a wealth of other emotions. There are some unique and memorable visual images.I've seen this movie a dozen times and appreciate it more each time. Like a great book, you are sorry when it ends and you have to part company.

18 of 21 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars A True Love Story February 16, 2002

By Frank R. Shoemaker Jr.

Format:VHS Tape|Amazon Verified Purchase

Once Around is one of those 'different' love stories. It's about the younger woman falling in love with a man, somewhat older than she. But the difference in their years has nothing to do with the amount of true love that he has for her.
His love for her is absolute. His love for her is honest. And his love for her is undying.

Unfortunately, the difference in their years, and their cultural differences (he is from Lithuania) causes a large conflict with her family. This is what tries harder than anything to come between them. However, their love for each other will never allow it to become an issue. They are married, they have a child, and their love grows beyond all bounds.

The point of the love story is simple, it grows, evolves, blossoms, and possesses their lives, to the point that when her family still finds conflict with him, she simply tells them to make a choice.

They do, and all of their lives are forever changed, and the end of the movie gives a whole new meaning to the words in the title, "Once Around." Enjoy this movie for what it is. Enjoy the love, the strife, the difficulties, but most of all, enjoy it for what it brings out in all of us. And don't be afraid to shed a tear. For, it will truly be a tear from the heart.

And remember, life is only 'once around' Give it your best.

10 of 11 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars One of the Best May 12, 2007

By neverwithoutespresso

Format:DVD

This is one of the best movies I've ever seen.

I loved everything about it: the acting, directing, and screenplay are top-notch. Richard Dreyfus knocked me out with his brilliant, ought-to-get-an-Academy-Award performance as the Lithuanian suitor. He is so intensely outgoing, he wants so much to embrace and touch people that it hurts to watch him. He is vibrant, enthusiastic, life-loving and warm, but one of the pivotal themes of the movie is that he is socially very clumsy. Typically, in a social situation Dreyfuss gives it his all with zeal and falls flat on his face.

There are equally brilliant performances by Danny Aiello as the bride-to-be's father and Holly Hunter as the bride to be.

The story is about an Italian-American woman from an upper-middle-class family in Winchester, Massachusetts. I mention the location because one of the charms of the movie is its attachment to place. Not only does Holly Hunter carry off the Boston accent perfectly (often attempted, seldom achieved), but the subtle social nuances are embroidered in the story. If you are not from this area, unfortunately, they will be lost on you. If you are, it will be a rich experience. Holly meets Richard Dreyfuss on a trip to Aruba. Dreyfuss falls madly in love with her, and she starts to fall in love with him. They see each other back in the States and decide to marry. A source of tension and drama is that Holly Hunter and Richard Dreyfuss are "odd ducks." The other members of the family have always handled their rara avis daughter with love and understanding (with the possible exception of her younger sister). But the pair of them start to rub these traditionalists the wrong way, and to an escalating degree....

One of the most affecting moments is when Holly Hunter's family gives a memorial service for Danny Aiello's mother. It is a large gathering of the family. Close friends and relatives get up on stage and make heartfelt speeches.

When Danny Aiello steps on stage to sing "Mama," the room goes quiet. When he finishes, everyone is overcome.

At that moment, Richard Dreyfuss insists on taking the stage to make his own speech. Danny Aiello's wife gasps, because she knows that somehow this would absolutely be just the wrong thing, perhaps the straw that breaks the camel's back after a series of so many resoundingly off-key gestures so many times by Dreyfuss.

But I found myself rooting for him and his bride when I thought the director and screenwriter didn't want me to. I thought they meant Mr. and Mrs. Danny Aiello and family to be the heroes and Holly Hunter and Richard Dreyfuss to be--not the villains, but the losers, the misfits, the inappropriate ones.

I won't tell you how the movie turns out, but it had me emoting and emoting and emoting and sometimes thinking and it had me to-ing and fro-ing, sometimes confused, and at one time sobbing deep, aching, profound sobs.

I must mention that in Dreyfuss's brilliant characterization of a Lithuanian man, he created a Lithuanian man. I don't know if it was his idea or the director's, but two devices that were used so brilliantly were music and religion, when Dreyfuss marries Holly Hunter and when their first child is born.

The marriage ceremony takes place in a real Lithuanian church with a real Lithuanian priest singing the real Lithuanian mass, which is chanted in a deep basso voice, something like the Orthodox Russian mass. The scene in the hospital room with Holly and the baby is totally awesome. There is beatific Holly, holding her newborn child, and in comes Richard Dreyfuss bringing a small chorus of Lithuanian women folk singers in beautiful folk costumes replete with flowers and embroidery. They sing several of the most beautiful a capella folk tunes. It is a magic moment.

If you like character driven movies, I can't recommend this movie highly enough. Read more ›

10 of 11 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars it's all about the talent January 9, 2007

By G. Mazza

Format:DVD

there are some movies you can watch over and over again, and get something out of it every time. the cast, to me, is what makes the movie. the best actors. it works so well. love it.

10 of 11 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars A masterpiece in need of recognition June 21, 2000

By Ralph E. Roe Sr.

Format:VHS Tape

Richard Dreyfuss shows a dimension not previously demonstrated. His persona as a self-absorbed success who is unaware that he hurts others, reminds me of so many people I know in real life. Ditto Holly Hunter as a Plain Jane searching for love. Danny Aiello and Gena Rowlands, once again, show us that thier talents are used to perfection. Halle Hallstrom seems incapable of making a bad movie. That this picture failed to find its audience in first run, can now be corrected thru home video. I am looking for a DVD release, but in the meantime, my VHS tape holds up after repeated viewings. As with Moonstruck, you don't have to be Italian to love this film!