Always (1989)
Average Rating: 5.5/10
Reviews Counted: 22
Fresh: 14 | Rotten: 8
No consensus yet.
Average Rating: N/A
Critic Reviews: 3
Fresh: 1 | Rotten: 2
liked it
Average Rating: 3.2/5
User Ratings: 22,071
My Rating
Movie Info
For all its state-of-the-art special effects, Always is essentially a remake of the 1943 Spencer Tracy-Irene Dunne fantasy vehicle A Guy Named Joe--minus the wartime context. Richard Dreyfuss stars as a reckless fire-fighting pilot who is killed in what was to have been his final mission. Ascending to Heaven, Dreyfuss is introduced to businesslike angel Audrey Hepburn (playing the equivalent of the Lionel Barrymore role in A Guy Named Joe). Hepburn instructs the spectral Dreyfuss to pass on his
Dec 22, 1989 Wide
Jul 20, 1999
MCA Universal Home Video
Cast
-
Richard Dreyfuss
Pete Sandich -
Holly Hunter
Dorinda Durston -
Brad Johnson
Ted Baker -
John Goodman
Al Yackey -
Audrey Hepburn
Hap -
Roberts Blossom
Dave -
Keith David
Powerhouse -
Ed Van Nuys
Nails -
Marg Helgenberger
Rachel -
Doug McGrath
Bus Driver -
J.D. Souther
Singer -
Ted Grossman
Fisherman #2 -
Brian Haley
Alex -
Michael Steve Jones
Grey -
James Lashly
Charlie -
-
Kim Robillard
Air Traffic Controller -
Jim Sparkman
Dispatcher -
Rick van Nutter
Nails -
Dale Dye
Fire Boss -
David Kitay
Band -
Joseph McCrossin
Mechanic -
Taleena Ottwell
Bar Girl -
Gerry Rothschild
Carl the Barkeep -
Loren Smothers
Bartender
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Always Trailer & Photos
All Critics (28) | Top Critics (8) | Fresh (14) | Rotten (8) | DVD (3)
Although Always is filled with big, sentimental moments, it lacks the intimacy to make any of this very moving.
Top CriticThe result is a curiosity: a remake that wasn't remade enough.
An unfulfilled promise, a plummeting dove.
For all its Spielbergian action and production values, the film is painfully sappy and wastes its A-list cast by saddling them with a hamfisted script.
Whimsical and affecting enough, but certainly a lesser Spielberg film.
Boring supernatural romance. Tedius and obvious. Wait until the following year's Ghost.
A light, enjoyable piece of fluff with spectacular flying scenes and a dramatically flat story.
Always may be starry-eyed romantic claptrap, but by God, would that all starry-eyed romantic claptrap were so well done.
A touching, beautifully short romance
Audience Reviews for Always
Super Reviewer
As far as story goes, it is, in broad terms, Ghost a year before it came out. An aerial firefighter dies saving his best friend, but has to help his friends and lover move on before he can cross over. Very sentimental fantasy type stuff, but it is Spielberg, after all.
The film is a bit too long, and the script could be more compelling, but I actually liked this film (for the most part), which is why it's close to a pass, even if it doesn't quite earn it. Maybe I'm being kind because perhaps Spielberg was just in a rut between a good film (Empire of the Sun) and a great one (Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade).
The film has okay music (though it doesn't really stand out), a decent cast with good performances, and some pretty good work where the special effects, cinematography, and execution of the aerial stuff is concerned. This film is notable for being Audrey Hepburn's last screen appearance, and, while it is nice to see her, she deserved to go out in something a tad better.
This is lesser Spielberg, but it still has it's merits. Maybe you should be like me and give it a chance. Maybe this film isn't all that bad, but just needs a little love.
Super Reviewer
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Foreign Titles
- Always - Pour toujours (FR)
- Para Siempre (ES)
