When a Man Loves a Woman

1994

When a Man Loves a Woman

Critics Consensus

When a Man Loves a Woman delves into the complex dynamics of a marriage shadowed by addiction, aided by strong performances from Andy Garcia and Meg Ryan.

71%

TOMATOMETER

Total Count: 21

78%

Audience Score

User Ratings: 41,254
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Movie Info

A dramatic treatment of a family torn apart by alcoholism and recovering from it, this was a star vehicle for popular actress Meg Ryan, who plays Alice Green, a school counselor who has a serious drinking problem. Her husband is Michael (Andy Garcia), an airline pilot. Though she's lighthearted and loving, Alice is often reckless and, when drunk, even neglects her children, nine-year-old daughter Jess (Tina Majorino) from a previous marriage, and four-year-old daughter Casey (Mae Whitman), whose father is Michael. After an accident, Alice realizes that she has "hit bottom" and goes into a clinic for rehab. When she returns home, she has kicked her addiction and has become independent and strong, and her perfectionist, controlling husband has trouble adjusting. Michael is used to his wife being weak and helpless, and they end up seeing a marriage counselor to recover from Michael's "co-dependency" on Alice's role as an alcoholic.

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Cast

Meg Ryan
as Alice Green
Andy Garcia
as Michael Green
Ellen Burstyn
as Emily
Lauren Tom
as Amy
Tina Majorino
as Jess Green
Mae Whitman
as Casey Green
Philip Seymour Hoffman
as Gary
Eugene Roche
as Walter
Gail Strickland
as Pam
LaTanya Richardson
as Dr. Gina Mendez
Garth Craven
Al Franken
Steven Brill
as Madras Tie Guy
Amanda Mackey
Cathy Sandrich
Susanna Thompson
as Janet
Erinn Canavan
as Shannon
Bari K. Willerford
as Malcolm
James Jude Courtney
as Earl
Jacques De Groot
as Guy in the Back
Anne Ohliger
as Jess (age 4)
Tony Montero
as Bartender
Cynthia Mace
as Detox Nurse
Jennie Yee
as Vu
William Frankfather
as Al-Anon Leader
Ellen Geer
as Woman at Al-Anon
Richard Bradford
Angelina Fiordellisi
as Joanna
Liz Lang
as AA Woman
Syd Field
as 1st Patient
Peer Ebbighausen
as 2nd Patient
Ronald Bass
as AA Man
Joe Drago
as AA Man
Andrew Magarian
as AA Man
Amy Treese
as AA Woman
Brandis Kemp
as AA Woman
Judith Ann Friend
as AA Woman
Deana Kobrynski
as AA Woman
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Critic Reviews for When a Man Loves a Woman

All Critics (21) | Top Critics (4)

View All Critic Reviews (21)

Audience Reviews for When a Man Loves a Woman

  • Apr 20, 2012
    Meg Ryan really freaked me out in a hot-mess kind of way.
    Jennifer X Super Reviewer
  • Jan 09, 2011
    MegRyan continues to be one of my favourite actresses and this movie is proof why. Andy Garcia also excelled as a loyal husband helping his wife get through her troubles.
    Sajin P Super Reviewer
  • Aug 15, 2010
    not good acting plot was lacking. too slow and to serious.
    erika b Super Reviewer
  • Aug 14, 2010
    In this movie `Alice` Meg Ryan plays a psychologically troubled housewife who has a taste for alcohol. Her character isn't a very likeable person. She drinks, slaps her kids, drives drunk with her kids in the car, completely forgets about her kids while she's out on drinking binges... putting her children and her husband through a living hell. She goes into therapy and overcomes her problems, but now it is the man who has to try to live with a woman who's no longer the same one he once married. The first half of this film was ok, but once Alice was out of the clinic, it becomes a little more than a husband and wife having marital problems and the alcoholism becomes a side issue.
    Deb S Super Reviewer
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