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Once Around (1991)

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All Critics
Top Critics

Average Rating: 6/10
Reviews Counted: 19
Fresh: 13 | Rotten: 6

No consensus yet.

Average Rating: 5.7/10
Critic Reviews: 6
Fresh: 4 | Rotten: 2

No consensus yet.

audience

liked it
Average Rating: 3.5/5
User Ratings: 3,332

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Movie Info

Swedish director Lasse Hallstrom made his American movie debut with this romantic comedy, starring Holly Hunter as Renata Bella, an aimless Bostonian thirtysomething who attends a seminar for aspiring condo salespersons. Here she meets hotshot salesman Sam Sharpe (Richard Dreyfuss), who immediately falls in love with her. After the marriage, Sam's well-meaning but obnoxious insistence on insinuating himself into every aspect of Renata's life rubs the rest of her family the wrong way. Though the

R, 1 hr. 55 min.

Drama, Romance, Comedy

Directed By: Lasse Hallstr�m

Written By: Lasse Hallstr�m

In Theaters: Jun 1, 1990 Wide

On DVD: Dec 28, 2004

MCA Universal Home Video

Once Around Trailer & Photos

Cast

Richard Dreyfuss
Sam Sharpe
Holly Hunter
Renata Bella
Danny Aiello
Joe Bella
Laura San Giacomo
Jan Bella
Gena Rowlands
Marilyn Bella
Roxanne Hart
Gail Bella
Danton Stone
Tony Bella
Tim Guinee
Peter Hedges
Greg Germann
Jim Redstone
Griffin Dunne
Rob
John Bennes
Minister
Gerald A. Benullo
Wedding Guest
Jonathan A. Cramer
Young Tony Bella
Lou Criscuolo
Uncle
Archie Fallon
Little Boy
Susan Felcher
Robyn Finn
Joan Gay
Aunt
Garry Goodrow
Michael Steve Jones
2nd Trainer
Jim Kirk
David Kramer
Mandala Folk Dance Ensemb...
Lithuanian Dancer
Mandala Orchestra
Lithuanian Musician
Dominic Marcus
Allen A. Mele
Roving Violinist
Caroline Parton
Honey Beach
Barry Reed
Young Joe Bella
Heather Reed
Young Renata Bella
Susanne Reed
Young Jan Bella
Sal Ruffino
Wedding Guest
Craig Sechler
Myrtha D. Severe
Kate Skinner
Dorothy Stevenson-Bigby
Justice of the Peace
Myra Taylor
1st Trainer
Sheilach Weymouth
William Wolkovich
Lithuanian Priest
Meg Simon
Fran Kumin
Cullen Oliver Johnson
Sonny
Sabah
Belly Dancer

Critic Reviews for Once Around

All Critics (20) | Top Critics (7) | Fresh (13) | Rotten (6)

Ethnic romances from Abie's Irish Rose to Moonstruck have traveled similar ground, but few have handled the role of family in a marriage more poignantly than Once Around.

May 12, 2001 Comment

Peter Travers

Rolling Stone

Top Critic

The first movie in a long time to leave me speechless.

January 1, 2000 Full Review Source: Chicago Sun-Times

| Comment

Roger Ebert

Chicago Sun-Times

Top Critic

There is no there there, just the dead red glow of the beckoning Exit light.

January 1, 2000 Full Review Source: Washington Post

| Comment

Rita Kempley

Washington Post

Top Critic

On the whole Once Around is strangely enervating, proof that family problems -- even those of fictional families -- are often best kept behind closed doors.

January 1, 2000 Full Review Source: Washington Post

| Comment

John F. Kelly

Washington Post

Top Critic

Dreyfuss and Hunter can't save what is a sappy and grating melodrama.

July 13, 2007 Comment

Felix Vasquez Jr.

Film Threat

A wonderfully charming, true-to-life comedy-drama that was one of 1991's best and most overlooked films.

July 5, 2007 Comment

Chuck O'Leary

FulvueDrive-in.com

One of Richard Dreyfuss's best films....lovely stuff

February 7, 2006 Comment

Clint Morris

Film Threat

This rather overbearing romantic comedy is by no means a disaster.

January 26, 2006 Full Review Source: Time Out

| Comment

Trevor Johnston

Time Out

Comedy-drama has more to it than it may at first seem.

January 1, 2000 Full Review Source: rec.arts.movies.reviews

| Comment

Mark R. Leeper

rec.arts.movies.reviews

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Audience Reviews for Once Around

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A beautiful movie!

December 24, 2007

Leo L

Super Reviewer

An interesting and believable cast of characters. Yet Sam's character (Dreyfuss) never made sense to me, and he exuded a fakeness that made me unsympathetic to his travails and constantly waiting for the sales pitch.

November 22, 2008

Lindsay Wilson

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