Themes: Families in Crisis, Crumbling Marriages, Alcoholism
Main Cast: Andy Garcia, Meg Ryan, Lauren Tom, Philip Seymour Hoffman, Tina Majorino
Release Year: 1994
Country: US
Run Time: 124 minutes
MPAA Rating: R
Plot
A dramatic treatment of a family torn apart by alcoholism and recovering from it, this was a star vehicle for popular actress Meg Ryan, who plays Alice Green, a school counselor who has a serious drinking problem. Her husband is Michael (Andy Garcia), an airline pilot. Though she's lighthearted and loving, Alice is often reckless and, when drunk, even neglects her children, nine-year-old daughter Jess (Tina Majorino) from a previous marriage, and four-year-old daughter Casey (Mae Whitman), whose father is Michael. After an accident, Alice realizes that she has "hit bottom" and goes into a clinic for rehab. When she returns home, she has kicked her addiction and has become independent and strong, and her perfectionist, controlling husband has trouble adjusting. Michael is used to his wife being weak and helpless, and they end up seeing a marriage counselor to recover from Michael's "co-dependency" on Alice's role as an alcoholic. ~ Michael Betzold, All Movie Guide
Review
Luis Mandoki's exploration of a woman's struggle with alcoholism and the effect of the disease on her family is a thoughtful variation on an overly familiar theme. Meg Ryan stars as the woman whose long-concealed drinking habit worsens, threatening her marriage and family life. While acknowledging the significance of the grueling recovery process, the film instead concentrates on the difficulties of the woman's loving and attentive husband (Andy Garcia) in coming to grips with his now partially recovered wife, who had previously taken a more passive role in their marriage. Employing two such attractive stars and placing them in idyllic surroundings might seem a typical Hollywood tactic to soften a painful tale, but it also functions as a reminder that no one is immune from such suffering. As Garcia attempts to relinquish his authoritarian role, the film transcends the issue of alcoholism, and the couple begin the difficult process of honest communication which lies at the heart of any marriage. Ryan avoids excess and melodrama in the creation of a moving and credible character, and Garcia is also excellent as the "in-control" airline pilot learning to navigate a new emotional territory. ~ Michael Costello, All Movie Guide
Ellen Burstyn - Emily; Mae Whitman - Casey Green; Eugene Roche - Walter; La Tanya Richardson - Dr. Gina Mendez; Richard Bradford; Steven Brill - Madras Tie Guy; James Courtney - Earl; Joe Drago - AA Man #2; William Frankfather - Al-Anon Leader; Ellen Geer - Woman at Al-Anon; Brandis Kemp - AA Woman #3; Gail Strickland - Pam; Bari K. Willerford - Malcolm; Ronald Bass - AA Man #1; Garth Craven; Al Franken; Andrew Magarian - AA Man #3; Tony Montero - Bartender; Cathy Sandrich; Amanda Mackey-Johnson; Susanna Thompson - Janet
Credit
Steven A. Saklad - Art Director, Salli Newman - Associate Producer, Cathy Sandrich - Casting, Amanda Mackey-Johnson - Casting, C. Tad Devlin - Co-producer, Susan Merzbach - Co-producer, Linda M. Bass - Costume Designer, Steve Danton - First Assistant Director, Luis Mandoki - Director, Garth Craven - Editor, Ronald Bass - Executive Producer, Zbigniew Preisner - Composer (Music Score), Stuart Wurtzel - Production Designer, Lajos Koltai - Cinematographer, Frank Holgate - Cinematographer, Jon Avnet - Producer, Al Franken - Producer, Jordan Kerner - Producer, Simon Maslow - Producer, Kara Lindstrom - Set Designer, Stan Tropp - Set Designer, Thomas D. Causey - Sound/Sound Designer, Ronald Bass - Screenwriter, Al Franken - Screenwriter, Susan Shilliday - Screenwriter
