Product Details

• Actors: Cameron Diaz, Ewan McGregor, Holly Hunter, Delroy Lindo, Dan Hedaya
• Directors: Danny Boyle
• Writers: John Hodge
• Producers: Andrew Macdonald, Margaret Hilliard, Sophie Byrne
• Format: Closed-captioned, Color, Dolby, DVD, Letterboxed, Widescreen, NTSC
• Language: French (Dolby Digital 2.0 Surround), English (Dolby Digital 2.0 Surround)
• Subtitles: English, Spanish
• Region: Region 1 (U.S. and Canada only. Read more about DVD formats.)
  
• Aspect Ratio: 2.35:1
• Number of discs: 1
• Rating: R (Restricted)
• Studio: 20th Century Fox
• DVD Release Date: August 3, 1999
• Run Time: 103 minutes
• Average Customer Review: 4.1 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (135 customer reviews)
• ASIN: 6305499144
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #20,856 in Movies & TV (See Bestsellers in Movies & TV)
• For more information about "A Life Less Ordinary" visit the Internet Movie Database (IMDb)

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com

A Life Less Ordinary is a surprising disappointment, considering it is the third film from director Danny Boyle, writer John Hodge, and actor Ewan McGregor. This disjointed and strained romantic comedy is not even near the same league as Trainspotting and Shallow Grave. Cameron Diaz is a spoiled heiress and McGregor an aimless janitor brought together by two angels (Holly Hunter and Delroy Lindo) hoping to hang onto their wings. McGregor kidnaps Diaz, the boss's daughter, after being fired from his crummy job. She is not all that averse to being snatched. Most of the laughs are lost to a scattershot story that feels preposterous instead of magical. --Rochelle O'Gorman

Product Description

Cameron Diaz and Ewan McGregor are star-crossed lovebirds on the lam in this twisted romantic comedy from the creators of "Trainspotting." Celine (Diaz) is a spoiled, rich young woman whose worst nightmare is having her credit card rejected. Robert (McGregor) is a hapless janitor whose greatest dream is to write the Great American Trash Novel. They have nothing in common - except the burning desire to live "a life less ordinary." When Celine is kidnapped by the inept Robert, a pair of celestial cops are dispatched to earth to make sure they live that "life less ordinary" together. Co-starring Oscar® -winner Holly Hunter and Delroy Lindo.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

15 of 17 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Good like tea - black and sweet, June 20, 2001

By	"ann_septimus16" (Colfax, WA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Life Less Ordinary [VHS] (VHS Tape)

Every time I read a bad review of this movie, one of the main complaints is that the angels are out of place, or not needed. Not so! Their presence explains why the two radically different main characters fall for each other. Without the angels, this story would be a trite, Showtime-style story of "kidnapped girl falls for cute kidnapper", but the celestial help allows the romance to fall into place so that the story can progress beyond that. You know that Robert and Celine have to fall for each other, the fun is in how the angels arrange the circumstances that put them in "the love situation".

The humor in this movie is very black and/or subtle - you have to pay attention to the dialogue if you want to catch everything. It never becomes arch, though, and allows both characters, especially Robert (Ewan McGregor), to show their sweetness. One of the only problems was that in making Robert a 'good guy', the screenwriters kind of made him ineffectual - every character takes advantage him in some way. But McGregor conquers that obstacle and produces a great character, very much the star of the film. Watch for the grave scene. It is the ABSOLUTELY the funniest scene in a movie, ever. Also the ransom call scene. Both are driven by McGregor to great effect. (Why, Oh why, doesn't he do any books-on-tape? I could listen to that voice for hours!)

I am not a fan of romantic comedies, mostly because of the unrealism that two perfect people find each other and fall in love. ALLO is different, though, because it explains *why* they HAVE to fall for each other instead of just giving us the situation and making us believe it.

And to all those reviewers who don't understand the angels, go watch a Meg Ryan movie.

WATCH THIS AND LOVE IT!!!!

11 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Romantic Comedy With A Twist, January 27, 2003

By	J. M. Zuurbier (Canada) - See all my reviews (TOP 1000 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)

A LIFE LESS ORDINARY is definately an original movie. This is a completely original plot that is enriched by good actors. It stars Cameron Diaz, as the socialite Celine, and Ewan McGregor, who plays Robert, a custodian. Two angels are sent down to earth to help pair up these two unlikely people, and make them fall in love. Robert kidnaps Celine in an attempt to get back at her father, who got him fired and replaced him with a robot. At first they despise each other, but as the movie progresses she shows him how to be a success as a kidnapper, and he softens her attitude, and they eventually fall for each other. Hilarity ensues every time they seem to get off track and the angels make desperate attempts to put them back together, such as writing a poem, acting as killers. Overall it's a wonderful movie that is well acted and well scripted, definately a delight to see if you want something different or just enjoy good comedy with a twist.

10 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Finally, An Original Romantic Comedy, January 26, 2000

By	Kevin Alphonso (Canton, Michigan) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Life Less Ordinary [VHS] (VHS Tape)

It's been a long time coming, but romantic comedies finally have the hope of seeming new and original. I had wanted to see this movie for a long time, and when I finally did, I wasn't at all dissapointed. This film was scalded by bad reviews and low box office take. Ewan McGregor and Cameron Diaz make a great team. McGregor is an extremly talented actor and he makes a great comic actor! One of the best scenes is where he tries making a ransom call, but has to keep starting over because he messes up! This movie has everything: great direction, good actors, a great story, and puts more than a few more than welcome kinks into the romantic comedy formula, which is turned upside down! This film is underrated and if you've heard all the reviews simply see the film for yourself. And even if you don't like it, it's not a bad Friday night video rental. Check it out.