Just Like Heaven (2005)

User Rating:

6.8/10   

Director:

Mark Waters

Writers (WGA):

Peter Tolan (screenplay) and
Leslie Dixon (screenplay) ...

Release Date:

16 September 2005 (USA)

Genre:

Comedy | Fantasy | Romance

Tagline:

It's a wonderful afterlife.

Plot:

A lonely landscape architect (Ruffalo) falls for the spirit of beautiful woman (Witherspoon) who used to live in his new apartment.

Plot Keywords:

Apartment | Coma | Doctor | San Francisco | Car Accident

Awards:

1 win & 1 nomination

Cast

Reese Witherspoon	...	Elizabeth
Mark Ruffalo	...	David
Donal Logue	...	Jack
Dina Waters	...	Abby
Ben Shenkman	...	Brett
Jon Heder	...	Darryl
Ivana Milicevic	...	Katrina
Caroline Aaron	...	Grace
Rosalind Chao	...	Fran
Ron Canada	...	Dr. Walsh
Willie Garson	...	Maitre D'
Gabrielle Made	...	Nurse Maria
William Caploe	...	Nurse Bill
Shulie Cowen	...	Nurse Jenny
Billy Beck	...	Mr. Clarke

Also Known As:

If Only It Were True (USA) (working title)

MPAA:

Rated PG-13 for some sexual content.

Runtime:

95 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English | Mandarin

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

DTS | Dolby Digital | SDDS

Certification:

Singapore:PG | Canada:G (Québec) | Canada:PG (Alberta/British Columbia/Manitoba/Nova Scotia/Ontario) | UK:PG | Ireland:PG | Australia:PG | Norway:A | Czech Republic:12 | Switzerland:7 (canton of Geneva) | Switzerland:7 (canton of Vaud) | Finland:K-3 | Switzerland:12 (canton of Zurich) | Taiwan:PG-12 | Mexico:A | Argentina:Atp | Sweden:Btl | Brazil:Livre | Malaysia:U | Iceland:10 | Iceland:LH (video rating) | Hungary:14 | USA:PG-13 (certificate #41875) | Philippines:PG-13 (Avid Phil) | Netherlands:6 | South Korea:15

Filming Locations:

Los Angeles, California, USA

Company:

DreamWorks SKG

Trivia:

Co-writer Leslie Dixon suggested using the apartment where she used to live for shooting. She also suggested 'Jon Heder (I)' for the role of Darryl. Both of these suggestions were taken.

Goofs:

Factual errors: If Elizabeth couldn't pick up the phone, could walk through walls, and walked through the dining room table, how could she lie on the coffee table or the bed or any other piece of furniture?

Quotes:

[first lines]
Nurse Maria: Elizabeth...
Elizabeth Masterson: How long was I out?
Nurse Maria: Um, about six minutes.
Elizabeth Masterson: Thanks, I'll be right there.
Nurse Maria: OK, I'll be outside.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in Flushed Away (2006)

Soundtrack:

Just Like Heaven

Wonderfully acted comedy; sensitive, silly and sweet

Just saw a preview of this film last night, and I have to say, I can't wait to see it again. Usually, I'm not a huge fan of "otherwordly" type films, but this one is original and fun. Mark Ruffalo and Reese Witherspoon have great chemistry, and the script is smart. He's a depressed landscape architect trying to get his life back together; she's a disgruntled spirit, wondering what ever happened to hers. After their initial frustrations (she hates how he doesn't use coasters or pick up trash in HER apartment, he hates how she appears without notice in what he now considers HIS apartment) they try to piece together the course of events that have left her in this state of limbo. What I loved about this film is David and Elizabeth's progression from animosity to genuine affection, as they alternately pester then rely on one another. He becomes dedicated to trying to help her, despite appearing insane to everyone in San Francisco, except for a wonderfully quirky psychic bookstore clerk played by Jon Heder (aka Napoleon Dynamite.) Not since Patrick Swayze quarreled with a Whoopi Goldberg in "Ghost" have I been so amused by a spirit haunting a mere mortal. This is a great chick flick, but would work out nice for a date, too. Just have a tissue handy!