IMDb > A Life Less Ordinary (1997)
A Life Less Ordinary
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A Life Less Ordinary (1997) More at IMDbPro »

Videos (see all 8)
A Life Less Ordinary (1997) -- Ewan McGregor stars as a cleaning man in L.A. who takes his boss's daughter hostage after being fired and replaced by a robot...
A Life Less Ordinary (1997) -- Robert gets the ransom he requested but runs into some unforeseen complications.
A Life Less Ordinary (1997) -- Open-ended Trailer from 20th Century Fox
A Life Less Ordinary (1997) -- Sinematurk - Trailer (Flash)

Overview

User Rating:
6.3/10   17,311 votes
MOVIEmeter: ?
Up 9% in popularity this week. See why on IMDbPro.
Director:
Writer:
John Hodge (written by)
Contact:
View company contact information for A Life Less Ordinary on IMDbPro.
Release Date:
24 October 1997 (USA) more
Tagline:
A comedy for anyone who's ever been in danger...of falling in love. more
Plot:
Ewan McGregor stars as a cleaning man in L.A. who takes his boss's daughter hostage after being fired and replaced by a robot... more | add synopsis
Awards:
1 win & 2 nominations more
User Comments:
Another whimsical and wacky comedy!!! more (158 total)

Cast

  (Cast overview, first billed only)

Ewan McGregor ... Robert Lewis

Cameron Diaz ... Celine Naville

Holly Hunter ... O'Reilly

Delroy Lindo ... Jackson

Dan Hedaya ... Gabriel

Ian McNeice ... Mayhew
Frank Kanig ... Ted
Mel Winkler ... Francis 'Frank' Naville

Stanley Tucci ... Elliot Zweikel
Anne Cullimore Decker ... Violet Eldred Gesteten

K.K. Dodds ... Lily

Tony Shalhoub ... Al

Christopher Gorham ... Walt

Ian Holm ... Naville
Maury Chaykin ... Tod Johnson
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Create a character page for: ?

Additional Details

MPAA:
Rated R for violence and language.
Runtime:
103 min
Country:
Language:
Color:
Color (Rankcolor)
Aspect Ratio:
2.35 : 1 more
Sound Mix:
Filming Locations:

Fun Stuff

Trivia:
Starting with issue 1063 publishing date 7-oct-1997, the UK comic 2000AD printed an eight-part, 48-page, drawn strip adaptation of the movie. Scripted by David Bishop and drawn by Steve Yeowell, it met with a mixed reception from readers. First cover is posted under miscellaneous URLs. more
Goofs:
Continuity: When Robert is digging the grave, Jackson is talking to him, sitting on the ground with legs crossed. There is a cut to Jackson's back, and a few seconds later a front view shows him with legs out-stretched. more
Quotes:
Naville: I want her back.
O'Reilly: Don't worry, we'll get her.
Naville: And I want him dead.
O'Reilly: That's understood, Mr. Naville.
Naville: Good.
[He places the suitcase with the ransom cash on the desk. Jackson starts to take it, but Naville slaps a hand down on it]
Naville: And when it's over, I want *this* back.
more
Movie Connections:
Soundtrack:
PUT A LID ON IT more

FAQ

This FAQ is empty. Add the first question.
29 out of 32 people found the following comment useful.
Another whimsical and wacky comedy!!!, 27 April 2004
Author: Mari-36 from CA

Years ago I didn't really like this film. I couldn't get into it, but I watched it the other night, needing a Ewan fix, and I loved it!!! It does seem a very strange mess of a movie if you browse thru it or happen to miss a scene while going to the bathroom, but I made myself pause it when I needed to and now I seem to get it!!!

Part road trip, part romantic comedy, part wacky comedy, part fantasy, it's all about how the angel Gabriel (Dan Hedaya) is getting pressure from the Big Man Himself to arrange love matches that will actually last.

Down on earth, oblivious to what's going on in heaven, a janitor named Robert (Ewan McGregor) has just been fired and replaced by a robot. His ruthless boss (a hysterical Ian Holm) refuses to even act apologetic about replacing hardworking men with mindless robots he doesn't have to pay. His reason completely gone, Robert kidnaps the spoiled princess daughter of his boss, Celine (Cameron Diaz) and hits the road with her, hoping to get his job, some money, or just an apology!!!

This is the kind of film which is perfect when you need something very fluffy and fun with no heaviness. There is some violence (one very funny scene involves Delroy Lindo forcing Robert to dig his own grave), but it's so funny and comedic that it's not going to fit in with the regular violence in movies, like in Die Hard or something.

It's a very delightful film for anyone who likes Ewan or Cameron. I think they had great chemistry and the whole movie was just pure fun!!!

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more (158 total)

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