Main Cast: Reese Witherspoon, Mark Ruffalo, Donal Logue, Dina Waters, Ben Shenkman, Jon Heder, Ivana Milicevic
Release Year: 2005
Country: US
Run Time: 95 minutes
MPAA Rating: PG13
Plot
A couple who live on different sides of the divide of life and death discover just how many boundaries love can cross in this romantic comic fantasy. Elizabeth (Reese Witherspoon) is a hardworking and dedicated medical resident who, after 20 hours on duty, is heading home when she falls asleep at the wheel of her car and is involved in a fatal auto accident. Several weeks later, a man named David (Mark Ruffalo) takes over the lease on Elizabeth's apartment, but he discovers that she hasn't quite vacated the building. Elizabeth's body may be dead, but her spirit is still quite lively, and her ghost is insisting that the apartment is still hers...and that she wants him to move out. David brings in Darryl (Jon Heder), an eccentric man who claims to have psychic powers, to help sweep Elizabeth's spirit out of the apartment, but she refuses to budge, certain that she can't be completely dead, despite all evidence to the contrary. As Elizabeth and David try to share the flat, they discover that their differences aren't as great as they once imagined, and they become attracted to one another. But will Elizabeth's spirit stay in the land of the living long enough for their romance to go somewhere? Just Like Heaven marked Jon Heder's first feature film role after his breakthrough appearance in the independent hit Napoleon Dynamite. ~ Mark Deming, All Movie Guide
Review
Just Like Heaven is the rare film that starts out broad, obvious and overly familiar, then develops subtlety as it moves along, ultimately winding up as a sweet -- if not distinctly memorable -- romantic comedy. A movie about a spirit haunting her former apartment can't exactly be "realistic," but Reese Witherspoon's sitcom-like reaction to her new circumstances is what gives the first act its eyeball-rolling broadness. Director Mark S. Waters stages this portion as an extended "meet cute" between Elizabeth (Witherspoon) and David (Mark Ruffalo), the apartment's new tenant, so of course the two bicker and display the mutual comedic disdain that always presages movie romances -- even though he might be crazy, and she might be dead. It's when Waters steps out of this lazy opening that the film starts to take on more dimension, as the audience learns what happened to Elizabeth, and what's at stake going forward. Even the soundtrack gets focused down from a selection of randomly used, disjointed songs to something more comfortable and organic. (And yes, it does feature the Cure song that inspired the title, albeit a cover by Katie Melua). Just Like Heaven loads up on the classic elements of romantic comedy, and sometimes overloads, such as putting two people in the role of David's buddy, thereby leaving both Donal Logue and Jon Heder (in his first role after Napoleon Dynamite) without enough to do. As for the leads, they acquit themselves well enough, but one senses they'd have been better if this material weren't essentially beneath them. (Ruffalo has always been a critical darling, and at the time of this film's release, Witherspoon's Oscar-winning turn in Walk the Line was just two months from hitting theaters). Still, Just Like Heaven manages to overcome most of the potential cynicism by the predictable finale. ~ Derek Armstrong, All Movie Guide
Caroline Aaron - Grace; Billy Beck - Mr. Clarke; Ron Canada - Dr. Walsh; Rosalind Chao - Fran; Willie Garson - Maitre D'; Joel McKinnon Miller - Lead Ghostbuster; Raymond O'Connor - Catholic Priest; Jeffrey Marcus - Uptight Neighbor; Jimmy Ortega - Security Guard; Lorna Scott - Hippie Neighbor; Lucille Soong - Chinese Exorcist; Tony Brubaker - Security Guard; Jacob Chambers - Kenny; Nicole Wilder - Kim; Tim Sitarz - Security Guard; Drew Letchworth - UFO Guy; Ken Takemoto - Chinese Neighbor; Victor Yerrid - Ghostbuster; Robert N. Benjamin - Ghostbuster; Paul Cassell - Brett's Friend; Alyssa Shafer - Lily; Tim Connolly - Security Guard; Ken Clark - Security Guard; Amita Balla - Receptionist; Chaim Jeraffi - Dry Cleaner; Gabrielle Madé - Nurse Maria; William Caploe - Nurse Bill; Shulie Cowen - Nurse Jenny; Diego Sebastian - Bandage Guy; Cristian Cruz - Orderly Luis; Benjamin Hughes - Peroxide Rocker; Cara Vivien Rosenberg - Balloon Girl; Catherine Taber - Intern Karen; Chris Pflueger - Abby's Husband; Kerris Dorsey - Zoe; Ron Hacker - Blues Guy; Kara Hamilton - Valerie; Doug Krizner - Donald; Zoe Waters - Park Girl; Karen Harrison - Kenny's Friend; Ingrid Coree - Waitress; Lee Burns - Ivan
Credit
Maria Baker - Art Director, Veronica Brooks - Associate Producer, Ben Wienert - Boom Operator, Marci Liroff - Casting, Nancy Hayes - Casting, Rolfe Kent - Conductor, Marc Levy - Co-producer, Lori Harris - Costume Designer, Tony Velasco - Costume Designer, Sophie De Rakoff - Costume Designer, Mark S. Waters - Director, David R. Ellis - Second Unit Director, Bruce Green - Editor, David B. Householter - Executive Producer, Cydney Cornell - Hair Styles, Anne Morgan - Hair Styles, Howard "Butch" Leonard - Hair Styles, Charlotte A. Parker - Hair Styles, Rory Enke - Location Manager, Eric Hedayat - Location Manager, Rolfe Kent - Composer (Music Score), Molly R. Stern - Makeup, Gretchen Davis - Makeup, Steve Adcock - Camera Operator, Gregory W. Smith - Camera Operator, Cary White - Production Designer, Daryn Okada - Cinematographer, Walter Parkes - Producer, Laurie MacDonald - Producer, Bill Meadows - Recording, Sue Lomino - Set Designer, Cat Smith - Set Designer, Michael E. Edmonson - Special Effects, Thomas Rasada - Special Effects, Mark Mangini - Sound/Sound Designer, Technicolor Weddington - Sound Editor, Mark de Alessandro - Stunts, Mike Martinez - Stunts, Larry "Warlock" Lam - Stunts, Annie Ellis - Stunts, Tawny Ellis Lehman - Stunts, Kevin Larson - Stunts, Oakley Lehman - Stunts, Kevin Bailey - Stunts, Tim Meredith - Stunts, Anthony Molinari - Stunts, Heidi Pascoe - Stunts, Randy Johnson - Stunts, Braeden Burns - Stunts, Joe Green - Stunts, Rocky Capella - Stunts Coordinator, Jimmy Romano - Stunts Coordinator, Michael Weitz - Technical Advisor, Alex Hernandez - Technical Advisor, David B. Householter - Unit Production Manager, Lope Yap, Jr. - Unit Production Manager, Leslie Dixon - Screenwriter, Peter Tolan - Screenwriter, Michael Maley - Second Unit Director Of Photography, Taylor Phillips - Production Assistant, Steve Dudycha - Production Assistant, Gunnar Clancey - Production Assistant, Nick Rufca - Production Assistant, Alex Betuel - Production Assistant, Kevin Cordill - Production Assistant, Brett Edwin Fifield - Production Assistant, Taylor Greathead - Production Assistant, Jennifer Möller - Production Assistant, Jeff J. Williams, Jr. - Production Assistant, Catherine Nieman - Production Assistant, Rick Fichter - Second Unit Camera, Jamie Dixon - Visual Effects Supervisor, John E. Sullivan - Visual Effects Supervisor, Robert Rossello - Visual Effects Supervisor, Donald Flick - Sound Effects Editor, Deborah Simmrin - Unit Publicist, Ralph Sall - Executive Music Producer, Tommy Klines - First Assistant Camera, Christopher Toll - First Assistant Camera, Jimmy Keys - Gaffer, Frank Helbig - Gaffer, Orlando Orona - Grip, Matt Jackson - Grip, Larry McCarron - Grip, Tracy Neftzger - Grip, Bill Bridges - Grip, Tino Contreras - Grip, Vincent Every - Grip, Jason Palinkas - Grip, Harold B. Taylor - Grip, Tod Huehn - Grip, Leighton Hill - Grip, Oscar Ness - Grip, Brook Johnson - Grip, Mike Hodges - Key Grip, James Beaumonte - Key Grip, Nicky South - Music Editor, Charles Martin Inouye - Music Editor, Samantha Becker - Post Production Coordinator, Stephanie Ito - Post Production Supervisor, Derek Jan Vermaas - Production Coordinator, Michelle Morrissey - Production Supervisor, George Ziminsky - Properties, Rick Young - Properties Master, Janna Stern - Script Supervisor, Eric A. Pot - Second Assistant Director, Al Broussard - Special Effects Coordinator, Gregory W. Smith - Steadicam Operator, Peter Iovino - Still Photographer, Michelle Eisenreich - Visual Effects Producer, David B. Moulder - Visual Effects Producer, Jeff Gomillion - ADR Mixer, Phillip Rogers - ADR Recordist, Marian Moon Toy - Assistant Costumer Designer, Scott Kidner - Assistant Chief Lighting Technician, Saisie M. Jang - Assistant Location Manager, Felix Gehm - Assistant Location Manager, Peter Moody - Assistant Location Manager, Christopher Hanada - Assistant Production Coordinator, Maya Owings - Assistant Production Coordinator, William J. McLaughlin - Assistant Properties, Mike Cunningham - Assistant Properties, Mark Coffey - Assistant Sound Editor, Mark Binder - Assistant Sound Editor, Andy Sisul - Assistant Sound Editor, Steve Redondo - Best Boy Grip, Kris Boxell - Buyer, Anna Lee - Camera Loader, Alan Jacoby - Camera Loader, Geralyn Flood - Casting Assistant, Francesca Drino - Casting Assistant, Michelle Short - Casting Associate, Jim Crawford - Chief Lighting Technician, Dave Degaetano - Construction Coordinator, Virginia Burton - Costumes Supervisor, Ralph Osborn III - Dialogue Editor, David Nims - Dolly Grip, Tony Thomas - Dolly Grip, Mike Sweeney - Electrician, Gary McClendon - Electrician, Jeff Gilliam - Electrician, Norman Ash - Electrician, Sean M. Higgins - Electrician, Peyton Skelton - Electrician, Joseph Terranova - Electrician, Central Casting - Extra Casting, Chris Bustard - Extra Casting, Paul Daniel Listro - First Assistant Accountant, Bethany Orlemann - First Assistant Editor, Sean Rowe - Foley Artist, Katie Rowe - Foley Artist, Reuben Simon - Foley Editor, Alex Sessing - Greensman, Jody Weisenfeld - Greensman, Valerie O'Brien - Key Costumer, Cathleen Edwards - Key Costumer, Judith A. Cory - Key Hairstylist, Simone Almekias-Seigl - Key Make-up, Becky Cotton - Key Make-up, Donald A. McMillian - Leadman, Shannon Curfman-Dayan - Leadman, Linda Kroll - Personal Assistant, Riyoko Tanaka - Personal Assistant, Erin Rodman - Personal Assistant, Ellen J. Hornstein - Personal Assistant, Pam Doqui - Personal Assistant, Rachel Bati - Personal Assistant, Maria DeVane - Post Production Accountant, Tom Hanada - Post Production Assistant, Patsy DeShields - Production Accountant, Jim Turner - Production Controller, Steven R. Molen - Production Executive, Margo Romano - Second Assistant Accountant, Rebecca Feldman - Second Assistant Accountant, Sharlene F. Duale - Second Assistant Accountant, Jeff Pelton - Second Assistant Camera, Salvador Alvarez - Second Assistant Camera, Kenny Bazal Jr. - Second Assistant Camera, Hugh Ross - Second Assistant Editor, Robert Skidmore - Second Second Assistant Director, David Hakim - Second Second Assistant Director, Annie Spiegelman - Second Unit Assistant Director, Kathleen Giordano - Second Unit Costumer, Matt Callahan - Set Dresser, John "Lucky" Lister - Set Dresser, Andrew Smith - Set Dresser, Lawson Brown - Set Dresser, David Garcia - Set Dresser, Hugh Pritchard - Set Dresser, Cynthia C. Rebman - Set Dresser, Gregg Szabo, Jr. - Set Dresser, Sandy Reed - Set Dresser, David Lowery - Storyboard Artist, Eduardo Peralta Ramos - Transportation Captain, James D. D'Amico - Transportation Captain, Mike Riportella - Transportation Captain, Michael D. Menapace - Transportation Coordinator, Big Red Pixel - Visual Effects, Barbara Haberecht - Set Decorator, Marc Levy - Book Author, L.A. MadDogs - ADR Voice Casting, Javier Carillo - Construction Foreman, Steven W. Rigamat - Construction Foreman, Darryl Robertshaw - Construction Foreman, James Chandler - Craft Service/Catering, Chef Robert Catering - Craft Service/Catering, David Kasubowski - Craft Service/Catering, Jesse G. Cervantes - Craft Service/Catering, Michael W. Broomer - Driver, Mark Brown - Driver, Jeff J. Williams, Sr. - Driver, John M. Batiuk - Driver, James Cawley - Driver, Robert Cawley, Jr. - Driver, Kevin M. Cortez - Driver, Lewis Cundiff - Driver, Bill Davis - Driver, Casey Dugan - Driver, Burt Fernandez - Driver, Chris Gorden - Driver, Walter Horn - Driver, Benson A. Jones - Driver, Aaron McKissick - Driver, Ray McMillan - Driver, Tony Mihalopoulos - Driver, Edward O'Neal - Driver, Theresa Roehner - Driver, Jim Sgrignoli - Driver, Tommy Ray Smith - Driver, Darren Mann - Foley Mixer, Gary Burritt - Negative Cutter, Marilyn J. Madsen - Negative Cutter, Jennifer Mosley - Production Secretary, Sharon Lopez - Production Secretary, Douglas Axtell - Production Sound Mixer, Pamela Cruise - Set Medic/First Aid, Linda Larmon - Set Medic/First Aid, Mark Bosia - Set Medic/First Aid, Christopher T. Welch - Supervising ADR Editor, Mark Herman - Visual Effects Editor, The Picture Mill - Title Design, Mike Piccirillo - Art Department Coordinator, Steve Artmond - Department Head Makeup, Robert Morrisey - First Assistant Sound Editor, Benjamin Rosenberg - Assistant Director, Gilberto Gonzales - Compositor, Justin Jones - Compositor, Joe Bailey - Compositor, Miguel Bautista - Compositor, Michael Brazelton - Compositor, Tarn Fox - Compositor, Peter O'Connell - Compositor, Theresa Ellis Rygiel - Compositor, Jamie Clay - Compositor, Tim Carras - Compositor, Linda Tremblay-Geibel - Compositor
Elizabeth Masterson (Reese Witherspoon), a young doctor whose work is her whole life, has a serious automobile accident while on her way to a blind date. Three months later, David Abbott (Mark Ruffalo), a landscape architect recovering from the death of his wife, moves into the apartment that had been Elizabeth's.
Elizabeth appears to David at the apartment. Though seemingly a normal person, she has ghostly properties and abilities: she can suddenly appear and disappear, move through walls, and once takes over his actions. When they meet, they are both surprised, as Elizabeth is not aware yet of her condition.
For the most part, David is the only one who can see Elizabeth, leading others to believe that he is hallucinating and talking to himself. It is later revealed that one of Elizabeth's young nieces can also sense her presence although she cannot see her.
At first, Elizabeth does not remember anything of her life, and refuses to believe that she is dead. Her memories come back gradually. Together, assisted by Zen-like psychic Darryl (Jon Heder), she and David find out who she is, what happened to her, and why they are connected.
Eventually, David discovers that the reason he is the only one who can see Elizabeth is that he was her blind date. They find that her body is in a coma in the hospital. In accordance with her living will, she will soon be taken off life support. Elizabeth's spirit and David, who have fallen in love, manage to prevent this just in time, and she miraculously recovers. However, she doesn't remember anything that happened during the coma or any of the events with David, which leaves him heartbroken.
One day, Elizabeth goes up to her roof and sees David, who got in with the spare key and is finishing up the garden there. Just as he is about to leave, she asks for her key back. When their hands touch, her memory is restored, and they kiss. Before the credits roll, Darryl is shown looking at them in a crystal ball. Darryl is proud and sighs "Righteous".
Critical reaction
The film, though popular, was somewhat overshadowed by Witherspoon's more high-profile and almost simultaneously released blockbuster Walk the Line, for which she won an Academy Award. Critics were mixed on the film, although the most prominent of them, such as Roger Ebert, Richard Roeper, and A.O. Scott, gave it favorable reviews. They all seemed to agree that the plot had logical flaws that were somewhat overcome by good dialogue and characterization. The performances of Witherspoon, Ruffalo, and Heder were all generally well-received. Heder's appearance helped to debunk an urban rumor that the actor had died shortly after filming Napoleon Dynamite. The DVD release in February 2006 was given unusually strong promotional publicity.
In 2006, the movie was awarded "worst foreign movie of the year" by the "Gérard du Cinema" Academy, an equivalent of the "Golden Raspberry Award" in France.
Theme song
The title of this film is also that of a popular 1987 song, "Just Like Heaven" by The Cure. Singer Katie Melua recorded a cover version of the song for the soundtrack of the film. Melua's version is played over the opening titles; the original version by the Cure is played over much of the closing credits.
