Rating: 
Summary: to believe in love, you have to take the whole package
Review: Ruby (Marisa Tomei) has been burned in love so many times that when she meets the quiet gentle Sam by happy accident in the park, she is wary but then allows herself to fall in love with him. Until he starts telling her he is a "back traveler" -- traveling backwards in time from his starting point in the year 2472.This is a little too fantastical for Ruby, who has just reconciled herself to the fact that Sam is from Dubuque, Iowa and is afraid of dogs. She isn't sure if she accepts it or not, but she doesn't get rid of Sam from her life. She does discuss him with her therapist though. Even more fantastic is when Sam reveals that it is no happy accident that he met Ruby when he did. He has come to that moment in time to see if he can save her from what he knows will happen to her. Enough emotional energy -- either love or hate -- can help him achieve that. Is it a hoax, is Ruby being threatened by this man, or is it all the happy accident of true love? Watch this incredible little gem of a movie and decide for yourself!
Rating:
Summary: charming and addictive
Review: Take a break from all the high budget special effects movies and enjoy a wonderfully charming movie with a heart and a brain. It's not your typical sugary sweet romance. Instead we're given a treat of quick and funny dialogue exchanges and a suspense factor that will keep you hooked til the end. Listening to a couple argue had never been so much fun. Tomei and D'Onofrio are great. I rented the movie on Netflix.com and couldn't bring myself to return it until I had my own copy.
Rating: 
Summary: Marisa Tomei and Vincent D¿Onfrio give much needed substance
Review: The romantic comedy is something that people go to see because they know what will happen. The audience finds comfort in the fact that even though the plot may seem different, and the actors are new, the movie they are about to see is most likely going to be just like the romantic comedy they saw a month earlier. Brad Anderson's new romantic comedy "Happy Accidents" takes the basic concept that is known as the romantic comedy a step further.
The movie stars Marisa Tomei as Ruby Weaver, a New Yorker trying to overcome her codependency issues and find Mr. Right. When she meets Sam Deed, portrayed by Vincent D'Onofrio, she falls immediately in love and he moves in with her within a week. As they relationship grows, Ruby begins to notice that Sam has many overly odd traits, he doesn't like dogs, has problems with everyday concepts, and has spells where he seems to be in a trance. Sam's explanation is that he is a back-traveler, actually from the year 2470, and that he came back when he saw a picture of her and fell instantly in love with her. Ruby at first takes this to be a new role playing game between the two and plays along, but as time progresses she sees that Sam isn't joking around. From here on out the picture focuses on the relationship and how Ruby deals with either believing Sam or accepting the fact that he is crazy and leaving him.
As Ruby, Tomei puts in quite a good performance. She doesn't seem to overplay the role and does a respectable job with a character that is in what seems to be a very silly situation. Likewise D'Onofrio takes Sam and makes him very realistic, even though the nature of his character is not one of a real disposition. The best scenes in the movie happen when it is just Tomei and D'Onforio on the screen; their chemistry seems to be entirely genuine.
The movie is overall, fairly predictable in terms of plot, but Anderson does a good job of providing the audience with meaningful insight into relationships in present day society. The almost ludicrous situation reveals truths that bring into play the concepts of idealism in relationships, and the trust we must provide our partners. The other way in which Anderson successfully brings "Happy Accidents" a step above the average romantic comedy are scenes in which Sam experiences his trances, which are actually time moving backward. During these scenes the audience is allowed to see through the eyes of Sam, and time seems to stop as the scene begins to replay itself backwards in slow motion. While this may seem like a distracting element, it actually adds reflection time to the film. The typical romantic comedy moves quickly and often doesn't give the audience much time to even think about the deeper issues at hand, (granted in many the issues aren't all that deep), but here Anderson not only gives his film substantial subject matter, he actually allows time for the audience to process it.
At first glance, "Happy Accidents" appears to be your average romantic comedy, with the basic plot, simplistic acting, and predictable ending. And while it is true that the movie is not overly complex, with overly dramatic acting, and a million twists and turns, Brad Anderson brings "Happy Accidents" to the next level. He takes the fundamental aspects of the romantic comedy genre and gives them substance. In turn he creates a movie that is actually interesting and relevant in today's society, making the enjoyment of the film anything but an accident
Rating:
Summary: Best Movie I've Seen
Review: There are no words to more aptly capture my sentiment after having just seen "Happy Accidents" than : it is undoubtedly the best movie made in the last 10 years...arguably more. You will be a better person for having witnessed the incredible acting, insurmountable plotline, and impactful originality that is to be had in this movie. AMAZING.
Rating:
Summary: Happy Accidents - A True Gem
Review: This movie is a true gem. It is difficult to understand why it has not gotten a wider release. It is a delightful blend of science fiction (i.e., supposed time travel) and love. Marissa Tomei is especially wonderful. While "Hearts in Atlantis" may have more cinematic finesse, it lacks any meaningful storyline. Do go out of you way to find and see Happy Accidents, you definately won't be disappointed!!!
Rating:
Summary: Pleasant Fantasy
Review: Time travel movies always appeal to me which is why I enjoyed this wonderful little fable. Marisa Tomei plays Ruby, hard luck loser at lovw who always seems to latch on to losers who need her. She details the sad story of her love life to her therapist, played by the always good Holland Taylor. Into Ruby's life walks Sam, a strange fellow who seems to just happen into her life (a touch of Serendipity perhaps?). Sam claims to be from Dubuque Iowa, but Ruby soon learns that he is from Dubuque all right, but Dubuque in the year 2470. Thinking that Sam is mentally deranged, Ruby plays along and soon the game becomes all too real. She is torn between wanting to get rid of this nut to the genuine feelings she has for him. All the while, she reports on the various incidents to her therapist. San's mission is soon made clear (to tell it would ruin the ending). Suffice to say that there is a reason for him to be in Ruby's life. He must break the space-time continuum (didn't Doc Brown warn against this in "Back to the Future"?) One of the beauties of this movie is that the writers were able to create a new world that is real to Sam but seems bizarre to the rest of us. It soon becomes appearent that this world is not so crazy after all and besides, who are we to dsimiss the unknown becuse it doesn't seem real to us. If you buy the idea of time travel you will enjoy this movie. The writers apparently decided how they wanted the movie to end and seemed to have worked backwards to get there. You can tell the ending from a mile off. And it looks as if they made it up as they went along, which is ok because it fits in with Sam's dilemma of trying to sell this fascinating tale to Ruby. As noted, Holland Taylor provides wonderful support and plays a pivotal role in the story. Also excelling is Nadia Dajani (from various character roles and the TV series Ned and Stacey). Anthony Micheal Hall also makes a cameo for no apparent reason. His role could have been played by a thousand different actors. However, it is fun to see him grown up, as he was in 61*. I enjoyed this movie because the story kept me involved even as i knew how it was going to end. Good filmaking can make an obvious ending very satisfying. "Happy Accidents" accomplishes just that.
Rating:
Summary: Don't Miss IT!
Review: Unfortunately disregarded when initially released, this film provides two excellent, perfectly cast performances, a strong story line and a superb supporting ensemble, making it one of the best films of its genre. Comedy and/or drama, the film is a winner. I found subsequent viewings to be more revelatory and made my experience even more enriched. Do not read the video or DVD box if you rent and try not to know what the film is about. This will keep you in suspense until the climax. And boy, does it reward!!
Thank you, Ms. Tomei and Mr. D'Onofrio.
Rating:
Summary: A real sleeper
Review: Why didn't this movie click at the box office? The characters played by Tomei and D'Onofrio are people you actually care about; that alone makes the movie superior to 99% of what passes as romantic comedy these days. Tomei especially sells her part (a difficult one) with touching credibility. A nice bonus is the believable relationship Tomei has with her parents, especially her Mom (who gives her daughter a pep talk about love that is one of the best scenes in the movie). Finally, a special nod to Holland Taylor, who just gets more terrific with the years, in a crucial supporting role. (One word of warning: if you ever do get a chance to see this in the movie theaters, don't. Nothing will kill the magic of the film's ending faster than having some lamebrain behind you wailing to his/her date: "But I don't UNDERSTAND -- what did she see in that photograph, anyway?"
Rating:
Summary: A real sleeper
Review: Why didn't this movie click at the box office? The characters played by Tomei and D'Onofrio are people you actually care about; that alone makes the movie superior to 99% of what passes as romantic comedy these days. Tomei especially sells her part (a difficult one) with touching credibility. A nice bonus is the believable relationship Tomei has with her parents, especially her Mom (who gives her daughter a pep talk about love that is one of the best scenes in the movie). Finally, a special nod to Holland Taylor, who just gets more terrific with the years, in a crucial supporting role. (One word of warning: if you ever do get a chance to see this in the movie theaters, don't. Nothing will kill the magic of the film's ending faster than having some lamebrain behind you wailing to his/her date: "But I don't UNDERSTAND -- what did she see in that photograph, anyway?"
Rating:
Summary: Undiscovered Gem
Review: Wow! Was I pleasantly surprised at this movie. The story line may seem simple: boy meets girl, boy and girl have problems, will boy and girl be able to make it? Is boy certifiable? Tomei's charachter has been burned before. She thinks she has finally met a great guy until he tells her he's a "back traveller" and begins to spin an elaborate tale of life in the future. Meanwhile she's thinking "Great, another nut job!". The whole time you are guessing about what could possibly be wrong with this guy because this relationship has just got to work. Did he kill his sister? Did he witness a brutal death? Does he have some form of epilepsy? He couldn't really be from the future and somehow now be living in modern day New York? Hmmm... you've got to see it to enjoy it.
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