Return to Me

Bonnie Hunt

Overview

In this romantic comedy, a man loses the love of his life, only to find her heart beating in the body of someone new. Architect Bob Rueland (David Duchovny) is happily married until his wife Elizabeth (Joely Richardson), a zoologist, dies in an auto accident. A year later, Bob is still dealing with his loss when he meets Grace Briggs (Minnie Driver), a shy woman who waits tables in an Irish/Italian restaurant run by her grandfather Marty (Carroll O'Connor). Bob falls for Grace at first sight, and she's attracted to him as well, but what he doesn't know is that a year ago Grace was the recipient of a heart transplant -- and that Elizabeth was the donor. Return to Me was directed and co-written by actress Bonnie Hunt, who also appears in a supporting role as Grace's best friend Megan; the cast also includes Robert Loggia, James Belushi, and David Alan Grier.

Product Details

Release Date:	01/27/2015
UPC:	0887090089500
Original Release:	2000
Rating:	PG
Source:	Olive Films
Region Code:	1
Time:	1:55:00
Sales rank:	1,543

Special Features

Audio commentary by writer/director Bonnie Hunt and writer Don Lake; "What If I Loved You" music video; Deleted scene

Cast & Crew

Performance Credits

David Duchovny	Bob Rueland
Minnie Driver	Grace Briggs
Jim Belushi	Joe Dayton
Bonnie Hunt	Megan Dayton
Chris Barnes	Jeff
David Alan Grier	Charlie Johnson
Carroll O'Connor	Marty O’Reilly
Holly Biniak	Big Hair
Eddie Jones	Emmett McFadden
LaTaunya Bounds	Zebra Girl
Robert Loggia	Angelo Pardipillo
Marianne Muellerleile	Sophie
Jack Cooper	Ballroom Bartender
Dick Cusack	Mr. Bennington
Joely Richardson	Elizabeth Rueland
Rudy Gabor	Italian Singer
Romano Ghini	Cappucino Man
Joey Gian	Singer
Austin Samuel Hibbs	Austin Dayton
Brian Howe	Mike
Alice Hunt	Nancy
Carol Hunt	Nurse Alice
Kevin Hunt	ER Doctor
Patrick Hunt	Danny
Tom Hunt	Tom
Walter Jacobs	M.C.
Franklin E. Jones	Chester
Claire Lake	ER Nurse
Don Lake	Transplant Man
Laura Larsen	Laura Dayton
Tim O'Malley	Patrick
David Pasquesi	Tony
Karson Pound	Karson Dayton
Angelo Ricco	Italian Singer
Paola Sebastiani	Nurse
Tom Senderak	Paramedic
Peter B. Spector	Valet Guy
Tyler Spitzer	Tyler Dayton
Adam Tanguay	Adam Dayton
Harry Teinowitz	Ice Cream Clerk
Jennie Lew-Tugend	Paramedic
Tamara Tungate	Celia
Becky Veduccio	Shari
Tom Virtue	Dr. Senderak
Lilliana Vitale	Nun
Darryl Warren	Father Rudy
Holly Wortell	Marsha
William Zirko	Italian Singer
William Bronder	Wally Jatczak
Alan Gresik's Swing Shift Orchestra	AG Orchestra
Lindsey Allen	Delivery Girl
Gabriella Arena	Nun
Edward Ballog	Italian Singer

Technical Credits

Bonnie Hunt

Don Lake

Bonnie Hunt	Director,Original Story,Screenwriter
Artist Robinson	Asst. Director
Lis Bothwell	Costumes/Costume Designer
Garth Craven	Editor
Daniel Clancy	Set Decoration/Design
C.O. Erickson	Executive Producer
Mali Finn	Casting
Samantha Goodman	Original Story
Melanie Greene	Executive Producer
Robert Grieve	Sound Editor
Laszlo Kovacs	Cinematographer
David W. Krummel	Art Director
Don Lake	Original Story,Screenwriter
Nicholas Pike	Score Composer
Kerry Sanders	Set Decoration/Design
Andrew Stern	Original Story
Brent Thomas	Production Designer
Jennie Lew Tugend	Producer

Scene Index

Disc #1 -- Return to Me
1. Chapter 1 [4:36]
2. Chapter 2 [15:39]
3. Chapter 3 [20:48]
4. Chapter 4 [14:43]
5. Chapter 5 [9:00]
6. Chapter 6 [6:01]
7. Chapter 7 [14:52]
8. Chapter 8 [14:46]
9. Chapter 9 [15:41]

Menu

Disc #1 -- Return to Me
   Play
   Chapters
   Bonus
      "What If I Loved You" Music Video
      Deleted Scene
      Theatrical Trailer
      Audio Commentary By Writer/Director Bonnie Hunt And Writer Don Lake
         Audio Commentary: On
         Audio Commentary: Off
         Play

Editorial Reviews

Actress Bonnie Hunt, whose resume includes work in such films such as Jerry Maguire and The Green Mile as well as two critically acclaimed but short-lived TV series, makes her directorial debut with this romantic comedy about the joys of family and the heartaches of organ donations. David Duchovny stars as a grieving widower who finds love with a kindly waitress played by Minnie Driver and her eccentric extended family. All the while he has no idea she was the recipient of his dead wife's heart. While Duchovny exudes a low-key comedic charm and Driver a quirky vulnerability, Return to Me really shines in its ensemble work. The true highlights here are Hunt's own subplot as the wife of blustery but gentle Jim Belushi and the long-awaited return of Carroll O'Connor to the big screen. Well observed, consistently amusing, and often touching, Return to Me is a love letter to its characters and to the city of Chicago.

Barnes & Noble - Amy Robinson

The directorial debut of respected actress Bonnie Hunt, Return to Me is a polished and skillfully realized romantic comedy that literally reverses the tearjerker formula by placing its tragic death at the film's beginning rather than the conclusion. Instead of a tale of doomed romance, Hunt has created (with her writing partner Don Lake, who also appears in a humorous cameo), a story that's not exactly the high-concept Hollywood standard: the journey of two people slowly and intelligently putting their lives back together. The director, who cast the film with many of her personal friends from the acting community, pulls fully engaged, grounded performances from her film's protagonists, David Duchovny and Minnie Driver. Driver has earned her chops in this genre with hits such as Circle of Friends (1995) and Grosse Pointe Blank (1997), but Duchovny, noted for his trademark icy reserve, is a revelation as a man with a deeply painful emotional life. An underrated gem that deserved more attention from critics and audiences, Return to Me marks the freshman project of a filmmaker with a promising future behind the camera.

All Movie Guide - Karl Williams

Read More