Forces of Nature (1999)
Average Rating: 5.3/10
Reviews Counted: 65
Fresh: 30 | Rotten: 35
No consensus yet.
Average Rating: 4.7/10
Critic Reviews: 21
Fresh: 7 | Rotten: 14
No consensus yet.
liked it
Average Rating: 2.6/5
User Ratings: 57,085
Movie Info
Ben (Ben Affleck) has two days to get from New York to Savannah, Georgia for his wedding to Bridget Cahill (Maura Tierney). Everything is running smoothly until his plane skids off the runway. Ben inadvertently saves the life of his seatmate, Sarah (Sandra Bullock), who becomes his companion for the longest two days of his life. As fate begins to repeat itself through a series of disasters involving a rental car, a train, and a bus (not to mention a hurricane), Ben has to wonder if someone's
Mar 19, 1999 Wide
Dec 19, 2000
Dreamworks Distribution
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Cast
-
Sandra Bullock
Sarah -
Ben Affleck
Ben -
Maura Tierney
Bridget -
Steve Zahn
Alan -
Blythe Danner
Virginia -
Ronny Cox
Hadley -
Michael Fairman
Richard -
Janet Carroll
Barbara -
Richard Schiff
Joe -
David Strickland
Steve -
Meredith Scott Lynn
Debbie -
-
Steve Hytner
Jack -
John Doe
Carl
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All Critics (69) | Top Critics (21) | Fresh (30) | Rotten (35) | DVD (8)
DreamWorks' first reprehensible fiasco.
An extremely enjoyable neo-screwball comedy about attractive opposites on the road.
A bumbling and typically charmless latter-day studio screwball comedy.
Top CriticThe cinematic equivalent of Styrofoam: a weightless romantic comedy of synthetic feelings.
A most pleasant and diverting venture.
Make no mistake: This slackly paced picture doesn't gel. But it so consistently undermines the pastel-pretty conventions that currently rule the genre that some sneaky admiration is in order.
The humour is genial and both Affleck and Bullock are easy on the eye, but the film itself ends up being little more than a storm in a teacup.
Bullock seems a bit too level-headed for a screwball, and the affable Affleck has no real chemistry with her or Tierney.
While far from a complete misfire, Forces of Nature remains simply too by-the-numbers to be particularly gratifying or worthwhile.
All in all, it really depends on if you're a fan of the two leads. I am, so I liked it.
It has all been done before, and better.
For the most part this film is not particularly funny or entertaining. The plot is, of course, predictable.
As soon as the co-stars become unlikely companions on a two-day trip to the South, a major problem crops up: no screen chemistry. They rarely click together, let alone sizzle.
Bullock seems to really be enjoying herself in this role, and Affleck is uncomfortable. I don't know whether this is because his role dictates it or if it's just a natural reaction, but it works.
Sandra Bullock is the good news about Forces of Nature. Her natural charm dances off the screen with giddy abandon. Unfortunately, the movie lets her down.
though Sandra Bullock and Ben Affleck generate a certain amount of goodwill... the comedy - like the airplane its central characters meet aboard - doesn't quite get off the ground.
The combination of Affleck's deadpan by-the-book persona with the spontaneity of Bullock's character sparks with convincing chemistry, their diverse personalities causing both to grow and bring to the surface what each is running away from or can't admit.
Relationships are always leaps of faith requiring only a courageous heart and a commitment to the beloved that goes beyond either rhyme or reason.
Except for the continuous onslaught of disasters, some of which are genuinely funny, there is really not a whole lot going on here.
Forces of Nature isn't awful. It is just miscast. If Ben was being lured by someone more tempting, like Melanie Griffith in Wild Thing, say, it would have had more of an edge.
Audience Reviews for Forces of Nature
Super Reviewer
Ben Affleck and Sandra Bullock are very appealing as the reliable groom-to-be and free-spirited traveller who complement each other's strengths and weaknesses and who learn to offer one another valuable life lessons.
The cinematography is unique, inventive, and beautiful! This movie has always given me a better perspective on marriage, love, lust, wondering minds, and people in general. This film's directorial vision is clear and is visually stunning.
One good performance came from the late David Strickland (TV series' Suddenly Susan) in his final film role. It was unfortunate to hear about Strickland's death because his role in this film showed the world that he can act well on the big screen.
Super Reviewer
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Foreign Titles
- Forces of Nature (1999) (DE)
- Forces of Nature (1999) (CA)
