Hope Floats Reviews

An airy, nothing kind of film, which is always trying to be more than it is. You go in thinking itâ(TM)s some flouncy Sandra Bullock vehicle, where she can be her goofy self while falling in love with the handsomest of men on the planet. Instead of being a romantic comedy it's more of a character study of a bereaved woman who is ridiculed and belittled after suffering public embarrassment. The beginning, when we're first introduced to Birdee, a divorced single mother who moves home after being humiliated by her husband and his lover, itâ(TM)s actually quite moving and sweet. Though the daughter is an intimate character, and a look into the true psychological faculties of a girl her age, the rest of the family and the husband are ridiculous caricatures. Watching the daughter and wife interact, it was hinted that the husband was this deeply flawed character, but he has all the parameters of some nothing villain. Gena Rowlands is a hard hearted eccentric who's only there to thrust Bullock's struggles to the surface. Though I enjoyed what she brought to the film as a character, using her as a plot point further on was despicable. The other kid, a boy who likes to act as things, didn't have enough backstory with his no good mother to render a specific response except distaste. Though his antics and tendency to keep silent were perfectly odd and childlike, I would have liked to see a broader side of him. The movie altogether is schmaltz. What she has to overcome and the way she does it is small stuff, an amalgamation of every other drama of this genre, or of that decade. There is so much someone can do with the breakup of a marriage, but they looked solely on the aftermath though that's not what the movie was trying to accomplish. Look at Blue Valentine and tell me it's hard to make a film that's complex but relates to an ordinary occurrence.

Good movie! A little underrated in my opinion, but it's mostly because not too many have seen it. I definitely recommend it! I used to live in Smithville, TX, where the movie was filmed, so I've always liked this film. It's nothing spectacular, but it's worth while. Also, this is one of Sandra Bullock's earlier films, so it's nice seeing where she's come from.

Sandra Bullock looks lovely as always but this film was very slow and dull. I just kept waiting for something to happen. Thought it might be a rom-com to start with but it was definitely a drama. Just so slow and predictable and nothing really happens. If you want a romantic drama watch the Notebook which also stars Gena Rowlands.

Good touching and poignant drama film that has it all... love and pain... laughter and tears. It's perfect. The beauty of the country along with the small town family atmosphere makes this pure. Sandra Bullock is very good in a complex role. Gena Rowlands is gold. Harry Connick Jr. fails to impress. Michael Paré is awful. Mae Whitman is extremely irritating but the other child actor Cameron Finley is quite likable.

I didn't care for the film. The character that Sandra Bullock plays isn't a likable one and I didn't really care if she was happy in the end. The character of the daughter wasn't good at all either. In the end I really didn't care and that made me long for the end of the movie.

The half star is for Gena.

What a great movie.

Get out your kleenexes this is a heartbreaker

People all thought this movie was crap and was a dry scipt with no life, but I absolutely adored this BAD movie. Something about it just touched my heart and although it lacked in keeping us guessing, and Bullock's acting was dry as ever, and Connick Jr. was trying too hard to be sentimental and comedic at the same time, I thought Gena Rowland's character was the best. She reminded me of my mother and I think this is why I adored this movie so much. Other than that, the movie has heart, but it should have been done alot better. Too bad for the ratings. But nonetheless, it's a fave of mine.

I usually like Sandra Bullock but the moving exchanges between her character and that of her mother are cheapened by her total lack of chemistry with Harry Connick Jr (Bullock's love interest in the film). The movie would have actually been better if they had cut out his awkward, cringe-worthy scenes entirely. on the whole, not one of her better ones.

Even though this is the epitome of chick flicks and predictible as all heck, I can't help but like this movie. Must be the chemistry between Sandra and Harry...

great.

This is a very sweet story, but Birdee's character is rather shallow. If you only watch this for the romance and the happy ending you won't be disappointed.

Good movie! A little underrated in my opinion, but it's mostly because not too many have seen it. I definitely recommend it! I used to live in Smithville, TX, where the movie was filmed, so I've always liked this film. It's nothing spectacular, but it's worth while. Also, this is one of Sandra Bullock's earlier films, so it's nice seeing where she's come from.

Plot/Summary,Actor/director Forest Whitaker (Waiting to Exhale) helmed this romantic drama about a one-time high-school beauty queen who returns to her hometown of Smithville, TX. The Steven Rogers screenplay begins in Chicago, where blonde Connie (Rosanna Arquette, uncredited) appears on a trashy daytime talk show and tells a nationwide TV audience about her affair with the husband of her best friend, Birdie Pruitt (Sandra Bullock). Walking into the ambush, Birdie is paraded forth for a public humiliation as Connie's claim is confirmed by husband Bill (Michael Parà (C)). Birdie and her young daughter, Bernice (Mae Whitman), then move back to Texas to live with Birdie's eccentric mother, Ramona (Gena Rowlands), a taxidermist who has filled the house with stuffed animals. Since most of Smithville saw the TV show, embarrassment keeps Birdie sitting around the house in her pajamas; however, her moment of glory as the homecoming "Queen of Corn" has not been forgotten by handyman Justin Matisse (Harry Connick Jr.), the first guy who kissed her back in high school, so a romance soon begins. "Just give hope a chance to float up and it will," says Birdie.
My Review
This Film had potentul it was okay but still very boring and lame considering theirs no chemistry

The only thing I liked about this movie was Harry Connick Jr. He looked good. Sandra Bullock did a good job with what she had to work with. Nothing special...certainly not a great love story. Actually I found the story quite ordinary. One relationship ends, and another one starts...almost immediately. Big deal. The description says "after a divorce". This is NOT true. Birdie (odd name) says many times throughout the movie that she was still a married woman.

What the grandma did with dead animals was very weird. I think it took away from the story. The nephew was ALWAYS dressed in costumes and make up, which seemed a little strange. I think that took away from the story too. It's like trying too hard to make a dull story better. Only it doesn't work. Try letting a good character do that. Perhaps show some real emotions. The daughter was okay, though a little too bratty for my comfort. The (soon to be) Ex was a totally selfish jerk! (and that is putting it nicely)

I was curious about this movie for a long time. I really should have passed on it. Hope Floats? LOL

this movie is amazing. Whenever I have a bad day I watch this and I feel better. It makes you realize even though life gets bad, it gets better...it just has to.

this is really cool, it shows how we can be hurt and still get up and keep going and see a possibility to the future

my main problem with hope floats is the pretty ridiculous intro on the talk show...after that it's decent (in a super depressing sort of way)

My favorite part is when harry conick jr. dances with sandra bullock at the bar to the all time best song "just to see you smile". Every girl wants a man to love her as deeply as he does.