The Robert Downey Jr Film Guide
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The Robert Downey Jr Film Guide |
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Chances Are (1989) |
Summary |
A college student's new love interest turns out to be the reincarnation of her dead father. |
Direction |
Emile Ardolino |
Downey Factor |
Mid-High. |
Character |
Alex Finch, the reincarnation of Cybill Shepherd's dead husband and current boyfriend of her daughter. |
Looks |
When you think about it, doesn't he sort of look the same in all those 80s movies? |
Performance |
Cute, occasionally funny. |
Love & Sex |
He bounces between mother and daughter (Shepherd and Mary Stuart Masterson) in a we-can-watch-this-with-grandma-and-the-kids-in-the-room fashion |
Dies, Gay or Villain |
No, no, no. |
Other Actors |
Cybill Shepherd, Mary Stuart Masterson, Ryan O'Neal |
Connection |
Mary Stuart Masterson in The Last Party. |
Location |
Washington DC |
RDJ Says |
Usually when you're reincarnated you come back as a different sex. That would have been more interesting: two lesbian relationships, [me] having sex with Ryan's character, Phil. A couple of well-thought-out reshoots could change the theme. I think America's ready for it ... It's a nice film; he's a nice guy, and he's the most accessible character I've played ... I have a golden opportunity to be funny in Chances Are. I think we got the most out of it, but I really want to be a technician, and ten weeks is never enough time ... I understand why people say, "Well, if I've had all these other lives, why don't I remember?" You want to have to deal with, well, "I've been decapitated four times and had my heart broken sixty times." I think one of the real themes of this movie is you have to live your life for the moment. And in figurative terms, live one life at a time ... Cybill helped me to take my time at what I was doing. She taught me that I didn’t have to be talking every minute. "It's alright if you just look at me for 5 seconds and don't say anything," she'd say. |
Release |
March 10, 1989 |
Availability |
Call your local video store. Released on DVD in Region 1 and 2. |
Foreign Titles |
Argentina: El Cielo se Equivocó (The Sky was Mistaken) Brazil: O Céu se Enganou (If the Sky was Deceptive) China: A Reincarnated Love (English translation) Denmark: Gift Med Svigermor Finland: Taivaallinen Rakastaja (Celestial Lover) France: Le ciel s'est trompé (Heaven Has Been Mistaken) Germany: Ein Himmlischer Liebhaber (A Heavenly Lover) Italy: Uno Strano Caso (One Strange Case) Japan: One More Time (English translation) Poland: Wszystko Jest Możliwe (Everything is Not in the Cards) Russia: There is a Chance (English translation) Spain: El Cielo se Equivocó (The Sky was Mistaken) Sweden: I Sjunde Himlen (A Seventh Heaven) Sweden: En Andra Chans (Another Chance) |
Rotten Tomatoes |
60% Fresh | 15 Reviews |
Critical View |
Roger Ebert, Chicago Sun-Times: Although Shepherd gets top billing, and deserves it, in a way this movie belongs to Downey. He is at the center of the action, trying to juggle with the emotions of both women ... If Downey were not able to bring a certain weight and conviction to his performance, everything else in the movie would collapse, but Downey is convincing and good. |
2 Reasons to See It |
1. To understand why it's best that Downey never gave up his film career for a wacky sitcom. 2. His affair with Cybill Shepherd is encouraging for cougars (and cougars in training). |
Overall |
A cute, forgettable film. |
If You Like It |
You might also like The Pickup Artist (1987), Heart and Souls (1994), synth-filled '80s power duets with Michael McDonald |
Photos |
Video |