Themes: Looking For Love, Otherwise Engaged, Assumed Identities
Main Cast: Marisa Tomei, Robert Downey, Jr., Bonnie Hunt, Joaquim de Almeida, Fisher Stevens
Release Year: 1994
Country: US
Run Time: 108 minutes
MPAA Rating: PG
Plot
A woman throws caution to the wind in the pursuit of the man of her dreams -- whom she's never met -- in this romantic comedy. Eleven-year-old Faith (Tammy Minoff) and her cousin Kate (Jessica Hertel) are playing with a Ouiji Board when Faith asks who she will marry -- the magic oracle answers "DAMON BRADLEY," and Faith is convinced that she will one day meet this ideal love. Fifteen years later, Faith (Marisa Tomei) has yet to meet her perfect man and has settled for Dwayne (John Benjamin Hickey), a sweet but boring foot doctor whom she's engaged to marry, with Kate (Bonnie Hunt) helping her plan the festivities. The day before the ceremony, Faith gets a call from one of the groom's friends, who won't be able to attend because he's travelling to Italy instead -- and his name is Damon Bradley. Convinced that fate is trying to tell her something, Faith hops on the next flight to Venice, where she searches for the elusive Damon, and along the way meets the charming Peter Wright (Robert Downey, Jr.). This was Tomei and Downey's second romantic pairing, following their roles in the biopic Chaplin. ~ Mark Deming, All Movie Guide
Review
The presence of Norman Jewison may have had something to do with the anachronistic feeling of this romantic comedy, a pleasant entertainment without much in the way of surprise. The familiar plot stars Marisa Tomei as a schoolteacher about to embark on a tepid marriage, who suddenly takes off for Italy when the prospect of a fated romance presents itself. Between the one-liners of her unhappily married friend (Bonnie Hunt), who has tagged along for the ride, and a set of comic contrivances designed to keep Tomei apart from Damon Bradley (Robert Downey Jr.), her destined lover, there are enough laughs to make one forget the gossamer story. The two stars, who have a limited number of scenes together, are appealing and credible with the rest of the cast, but in the scenes they share, they never quite seem to connect. Bonnie Hunt is excellent as the common-sensical Kate, who also begins to contemplate some extracurricular activity. Best of all are the film's gorgeous Roman and Venetian locations. ~ Michael Costello, All Movie Guide
Billy Zane - The False Damon Bradley; Adam Le Fevre - Damon Bradley; John Benjamin Hickey - Dwayne; Siobhan Fallon - Leslie; Antonia Rey - Fortune Teller; Phyllis Newman - Faith's Mother; Gianfranco Barra - Danieli Concierge; Barbara Cupisti - Anna; Diane Jones - Alitalia Flight Attendant; Fausto Lombardi - Alitalia Gate Attendant; K.J. Roberts - Airport Security Guard; Mattia Sbragia - Alitalia Pilot; Renato Scarpa - Alitalia Gate Attendant; Shari Summers - Woman with Suede Boots; Fiorenzo Fiorentini - Old Man; Sergio Pierattini - Pension Waiter
Credit
Maria Teresa Barbasso - Art Director, Gary Kosko - Art Director, Stephano Ortolani - Art Director, Michael Jewison - Associate Producer, Howard Feuer - Casting, Milena Canonero - Costume Designer, Tony Brandt - First Assistant Director, Norman Jewison - Director, Stephen E. Rivkin - Editor, Rachel Portman - Composer (Music Score), Ken Weston - Musical Direction/Supervision, Fabrizio Sforza - Makeup, Luciana Arrighi - Production Designer, Sven Nykvist - Cinematographer, Norman Jewison - Producer, Charles B. Mulvehill - Producer, Cary Woods - Producer, Robert N. Fried - Producer, Diana Stoughton - Set Designer, Ian Whittaker - Set Designer, Alessandra Querzola - Set Designer, Dennis Dion - Special Effects, Diane Drake - Screenwriter, Rachel Griffiths - Script Supervisor
Faith Corvatch (Tomei) believes that she is destined to be with a man named Damon Bradley after playing a game with an Ouija board with her brother Larry (Stevens) when she is 11. This belief is strengthened when she sees a carnival fortune teller who tells her that the man she will marry is named Damon Bradley. Fourteen years later, we find that Faith is a teacher at a Catholic school and is engaged to a podiatrist. A co-incidence leads Faith to finding her soulmate, when her fiancee's high school classmate phones saying his name is Damon Bradley and is on his way to Italy. Faith and her sister-in-law Kate (Hunt) board a plane to Venice to find him and follow his path to a streetside restaurant in Rome. Faith accidentally bumps into a man (Downey, Jr.) while pursuing Damon; when she reveals her quest to him, he identifies himself as Damon Bradley. They spend a romantic evening together and fall hopelessly in love, but when he reveals to her his actual name is Peter Wright, she leaves him in anger and refuses to give him a chance. Peter shows up at the hotel, explaining to Kate the truth, that he has fallen for Faith. Kate meanwhile is interested in Giovanni (Joaquim de Almeida), a suave Italian businessman. Peter finally confronts Faith and decides that he will help her find Damon who, according to Peter has moved on to Positano. They go to a posh hotel, Le Sirenuse, where Damon is staying, but as it turns out Damon is a playboy. When Faith and Damon meet, Peter begins spying on them until Damon goes too far with Faith. When she leaves, it is determined that Peter and his friend, Harry set up the whole thing.
Back in the United States, Larry (Fisher Stevens), finding out that Kate is in Italy, goes to find her while Kate and Faith are planning to return home. Around the same time that Kate walks out of the hotel, Larry arrives and the two make up. He also reveals to her that the whole "Damon Bradley" issue was a joke; on the Ouija board, he spelt out the name of a bully he used to know, and that he paid the fortune teller $2.00 to tell Faith her true love was, "Damon Bradley". When Kate asks him why he doesn't tell Faith the truth, Larry says he hasn't because he is scared that she will never speak to him again. Meanwhile Faith and Peter are at the airport when they hear the name "Damon Bradley" announced over the public address system and both go rushing. Finally, Faith meets the real Damon Bradley. When Faith and Damon talk, he asks her if she loves Peter. Faith says "I do, Damon" and he tells her to go find him. Faith rushes to board Peter's flight to Boston which is on the verge of taking off. The airport staff accommodate her and hold the flight. As Faith boards the plane, Peter turns to see her. They embrace and kiss and the passengers and crew erupt into applause for the two lovers. The last shot of the film is of the plane flying out into the sunset.
