Rating: 
Summary: Faithful, Charming Adaptation
Review: I have read the novel six times, and taught it to hundreds of college students. Therefore I approached the film with trepidation, since I knew the text so well. Kasdan did a wonderful job of realizing Tyler's odd characters, however. None of the actors "completely" embodies my images of Macon, Sarah, Muriel, and Macon's family, but they come about as close as possible. Especially wonderful is the actress who plays Macon's sister, Rose. The film is not a substitute for the book, but it is a lovely companion.
Rating: 
Summary: Overall, a nice interpretation of a great book
Review: Anne Tyler is one of my favorite authors and Accidental Tourist one of my favorite books. I was a little anxious, though, about seeing this film. Tyler's characters are so very unusual, with little action and lots of reaction. Still, William Hurt and Geena Davis are all that was needed. William Hurt's dazed, bewildered appearance, Geena Davis's scary-odd Muriel. The movie is filled with moments of such emotional clarity that you are drawn into this romance between the remote gentleman and the oddball.
Rating: 
Summary: Skip the movie, read the book
Review: When I first saw this movie, I had already read the novel, and I still couldn't figure out what was going on. The plot is definitely confusing. Large sections are left out, understandable to a certain degree as there are limits to movie making, but, not only are certain subplots left out, important sections of the main plot are deleted as well. The result is a choppy, confusing, unpleasant film. The only slightly redeeming quality this film possesses is the fine acting of William Hurt, Gena Davis, and Kathleen Turner who struggle with a terrible script; however, I still don't recommend viewing this film.
The novel is such an amazing piece of writing; please read it instead, or, at least, check out my review of the novel. END
Rating:
Summary: A Movie from 1988, Even more interesting Today:
Review: Sometimes art is even more important after dramatic non-fiction events.
This movie is a wonderful example of a "who knew what was to come" situation. This movie, released in 1988, about tourists and tourism is far ahead of it's time. It's too bad the government wasn't as on top of the ball as the director of this movie.
Before 9/11, nobody really viewed tourism as that big of a problem here in America. Infact, most of this movie even takes place in other countrys. We never thought tourism would hit home like it did on that fateful September day in NYC, PA, and D.C.
This movie, a bit slapstick in it's style, is about a man who accidentally becomes a tourist. He's not recruited by any real life tourist cell, it's all fictional. He doesn't even know he's involved with tourism for quite sometime, it's quite a shock when he finds out he's an accidental tourist infact!
It was a good movie when it was made, and after the events of 9/11, it's an even more interesting piece of art. When it was released it got people really talking about tourism, who knew 13 years later the country would be obsessed with it? Now that the War on Tourism has started, I don't see a movie like this being made ever again. Not with the Patriot Act in place atleast. I think the director would be arrested for treason if he made this film today.
Rating:
Summary: The Armchair Traveller
Review: William Hurt + an allstar cast star in this character study of an overly methodical divorcee and his profession on who traveling buisness men can make their trips as dull as his life is.Seen the movie?You'll understand my review then because I'll speak directly about the characters.Macon (Hurt) and his astranged wife Sarah have lost their only son to a horrible murder and have grown apart.His siblings live in a house together and live a comically over-organized life.Meanwhile Macon is pursued by his BEYOND pushy dog trainer Murial Prichett and is forced to make a serious choice-between his ex with whom his relationship is always tenative or the fresh faced (but I should point out obviously younger) Murial.He chooses the later,if only for the reason she followed him on a trip to Paris (where they end up eating at a Buger King.????).
And as pushy and quirky as she is one actually tends to relate more to Geena Davis's Murial character.Macon Leary comes off as too controlled and insensative and his wife has lost faith in the world due to her loss.The side characters include Macon's
hyper organised sister Rose and her relationship with his eccentric boss Julian (portrayed by Bil Pullman) who proceeds to eat two helpings of Rose's highly undercooked turkey at Thanksgiving.More a slightly ubsurdist character study then a comedy,seeing as nothing really romantic happens and the leading man is actually an (intentionally) pathetic individual
'The Accidental Tourist' stands out heads and tales above todays faceless comedies bogged down with mindless teen flicks and vapid 'chick flicks'.This movie had some intelligence and wittyness to it and with the exception of the wonderful movie 'Amelie' very little is being done in this vein nowadays.
Rating: 
Summary: Tramatic
Review: What a tragic waste of talent. When I ordered this I thought it was a comedy. A comedy about a guy who travels the world and has two beautiful wmen after him. There is not way that it could possibly be boring,right? Except it is. It's slow and pointless. Everyone, including the dog, is clinically depressed and is in desperate need of therapy with the possible exception of Geena's character who is very unbalanced and stalks the male lead like Pepe la Pew throughout the entire movie. I suppose that she was supposed to be the breath of fresh air, but I found her delusions terrifying. The ending was unsatisfying, there was a strong clue that he was ready to change his mind again within minutes. I did get one really good belly laugh from this DVD when I went to the deleted scenes and saw that there were three screens of them. I'd been betting that they hadn't cut a frame. On this theme of traveling disfunctionals in love I vastly prefer the newer film "The Very Thought of You."
Rating:
Summary: It's about time!
Review: Having to watch this on cruddy laserdisc, it is reason to celebrate now that TAT is on DVD. Such tenderness and warmth between Nathan and Muriel - Geena Davis' Academy Award is richly deserved and she is the star here.
Presented in its original Panavision framing, this is a must pick-up for fans.
Rating:
Summary: Fabulous Movie With Intense Character Studies Throughout...
Review: "The Accidental Tourist" Hmmm... even the title of the film has many meanings. Unhappily married couple, Macon Leary,(William Hurt)a travel guide author and Sarah Leary (Kathleen Turner) have just lost their young son Ethan to an accident. Each of them goes through the grief process alone and thus, the marriage is quite dead. They separate, with Sarah leaving Macon in the big, old empty Victorian house alone, save for Ethan's badly behaved dog, a Welsh corgie named Edward. When Edward misbehaves, Macon just can't get rid of the dog because it reminds him of the good times that Ethan had with Edward. So, Macon takes the dog to obedience school and meets a very ecentric young woman named Muriel Pritchett. Muriel is a young divorcee with a very sickly little boy, named Alexander (Robert Hy Gorman in a very nice portrayal for a little guy). Muriel pursues Macon, a sexual relationship ensues and Macon opens up for the first time about his sorrow for Ethan. There comes a time when macon has to decide what he wants as Sarah returns to the homeplace and wants to try again. Amy Wright, David Ogden Stiers, and Ed Begley Jr. all turn in WONDERFUL performances as Macon's odd siblings who live together in the family home that they grew up in. Bill Pullman also turns in a great performance as Julian, Macon's publisher. This is a wonderful character study of families, their hurt, disappointment and finally, reconciliation. The film is strongly written and well acted. If you are looking for a funny romance like, "When Harry Met Sally", a spooky romance like "Ghost" or a treacly, sappy sweet romance like "Sabrina", then you are looking in the wrong place. If you like to see characters that pluck at your heart strings and seem "oh so real" then this is a movie for YOU! Highly recommended! Happy Watching!
Rating:
Summary: A Rarity: Real Character Development
Review: This is one of my favorite all time films. If you're looking for action, this is not the film for you (there isn't any). If you're looking for suspense, look elsewhere (there's not much). But if you're looking for engaging characters in a plot that makes you think and is both touching and humorous, this is the movie for you. It's rare that Hollywood produces a movie that respects its audience enough to let them think. This is a movie with so many interesting characters that they could have made several movies. After you watch it, you'll find yourself wondering about the characters' lives before the movie -- and what will happen to them later. When you're in the mood for something serious, funny and intellectual, this is a good movie to choose.
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