Description
Two of Hollywood’s hottest stars, Meg Ryan (SLEEPLESS IN SEATTLE) and Andy Garcia (THE GODFATHER, PART III), deliver critically acclaimed performances in this inspiring motion picture hit. As Alice and Michael, Ryan and Garcia are a passionate couple whose once-stable marriage is rocked by her increasing dependence on alcohol. As they strive to overcome this challenge, they discover a renewed sense of love and commitment. Sparked by hope and ignited by riveting star performances, WHEN A MAN LOVES A WOMAN is the must-see hit of the year — a story of fiery passion — and the enduring power of love.Amazon.com essential video
When a Man Loves a Woman is a dumb title (not another classic pop song, please) for a very smart movie. A kind of gender-switch take on The Lost Weekend, it’s about a woman (Meg Ryan) whose alcoholism almost destroys her family. That may sound like just another TV movie, but When a Man Loves a Woman is so authentic in detail and emotion, that everything about it seems fresh, urgent, and engrossing. That’s because the film is grounded in the actual experience of co-writer Al Franken (assisted by Rain Man scripter Ronald Bass). Franken is best known for his affiliation with Saturday Night Live and Politically Incorrect, and as the author of Rush Limbaugh Is a Big Fat Idiot, and Other Observations. You may recall that Franken is the creator of Stuart Smalley, 12-step programmer extraordinaire. Well, if you want to know how Stuart was born, you can start here. This is no comedy, however. In fact, one of the most painful realizations comes when attractive, “good-time girl” Alice Green (Ryan) and her husband (Andy Garcia) begin to realize how much of a role alcohol played in their marriage and in bringing them together in the first place. The issues and experiences confronted in this movie go far beyond the stuff you see on Oprah. –Jim Emerson
and this isn’t one of them. She’s just too cutsy and clean not earthy enough. She’s better off with lighter subject matter so she can show off her cutsy. I didn’t believe for 1 second that she was a drunk. Besides why would anyone need a drink if they were married to super sexy Andy Garcia. I could think of better things to do with him.
Rating: 1 / 5
Even though Meg Ryan does an excellent and credible job, I thought Andy Garcia was a dud. First let me say that if you cannot relate to a rehab situation, this film is uncomfortable to watch. Most dissapointing was that I did not believe that the speech Andy Garcia’s character gave at the end (that made Meg Ryan’s character as his wife apparently return to him) had any substance to convince Meg that he really “got it” in terms of her struggle. The scene at the marriage counselor had some promise but then it ended too soon and was not revisited. Again that scene was great for Meg’s character but did not do much for sphinx-face Andy. Also, supporting characters, aside from a few short moments at the rehab center were weak and uninteresting. Bottom line, if you come from a sober family, don’t bother watching this flick.
Rating: 2 / 5
After you’ve seen Susan Hayward and Gena Rowlands play drunks, Meg Ryan falls a little flat. Sorry, but that’s the truth! And at least Miss Hayward threw some tunes your way when she was battling the booze.
Meg Ryan is too “pretty” and you never really believe she is drunk, at any time. To be real, they needed to add some really bad bags under her eyes, and some racoon mascara like what Helen Hunt did in “Pay it Forward,” not a great performance, but passable. Of course, I don’t think Meg Ryan cares to “ugly up” for a role. This movie just plain stunk. And Andy Garcia, he was really fake also, no chemistry with Meg Ryan either. Maybe he could not get into her cardboard acting, who knows. The movie is funny to watch because there are so many scenes where you just cringe at the hokey dialog and wooden acting. This wasn’t the drama vehicle scriptwise for Meg Ryan, let’s leave it at that. The only consolation we have is that 10 years later, she has to take Nicole Kidman’s rejects and do a screen test and appear all nude to even get a role in a flop. There is justice!
Rating: 2 / 5
I will admit that I don’t know any alcoholics and I have not experienced the effects. However, I thought that Meg Ryan was very believable. She seemed as if she was really drunk especially during the scene when her little daughter watched her pop pills and drink at the same time.
Rating: 4 / 5
Sorry to go against the grain here, but I really didn’t care for this movie. My main problem is with Meg Ryan’s character. She just isn’t a very likeable person. She drinks, slaps her kids, drives drunk with her kids in the car, completely forgets about her kids while she’s out on drinking binges…and we’re supposed to feel empathy with this character?
And then, when the couple breaks up, guess who gets custody of the kids? Mom the alcoholic! How’s that for a little bit of reverse sexism for you? Sorry, but this movie did very little for me.
Rating: 2 / 5