They're not a couple. They both swear it! Watch BOUNCE,
however, and you wonder if "Gwen-Ben" aren't kidding themselves.
Ben Affleck plays BUDDY AMARAL, a cocky, womanizing L.A. advertising
exec (is there any other kind?) who, while on a business trip
to Chicago, gives his airline ticket to solid family man/writer
GREG JANELLO (Tony Goldwyn) who wants to get home to wife ABBY
(Gwyneth Paltrow) and young sons. When the plane crashes and
Greg is killed, Buddy's life and career start disintegrating
in a big guilt-fest. Hitting bottom, Buddy decides to follow
one of the 12-step recovery credos and make things up to someone
he has hurt.
Buddy seeks out widow Abby, helps her get a big real-estate
sales commission and falls in love with her, all without telling
her about his unlucky connection to her dead husband. The relationship
blossoms until Abby learns that Buddy should have been in that
plane seat instead of her hubby. Like in most romantic films,
the lovers' road back to each other is rough and winding but
ultimately all is peachy-keen.
The plot of BOUNCE is predictable, formula romantic faire
with the necessary "Kleenex moments" we all expect. It's a well-written
"chick flick" that would have gotten good numbers as a t.v.
movie-of-the-week if it weren't for its stars whose real-life
on-again-off-again chemistry gives "bounce" to their characters
and merits the big-screen showing. Paltrow is especially vulnerable
as fragile Abby while Ben is a bit more "wooden" in his loner
scenes. Put the two together, however, and you wonder if the
break-up/make-up tears aren't the real thing. If these two beautiful
Hollywood specimens turn you off, steer clear but "Gwen-Ben"
fans should eat this one up.
Now Playing
Rated: PG-13
Written and Directed by: Don Roos
Starring: Ben Affleck as Buddy Amaral, Gwyneth Paltrow as
Abby Janello, Tony Goldwyn as Greg Janello, Jennifer Grey as
Janice Guerrero, Natasha Henstridge as Mim,i
Official Website: http://www.miramax.com/bounce/
