Customer Reviews

Heaven Can Wait (Widescreen)

5 star:		(17)
4 star:		(8)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Everyone will enjoy "Heaven Can Wait". It is the all time classic movie written, directed, and starred in by Warren Beatty alongside the ever beautiful Julie Christie. It is about football, but more particularly it is about life.

I would actually rate this 3.5 if I could. It was not as good as I remembered. But, to give it credit, it wasn't bad.

I enjoyed this remake of Here Comes Mr Jordan very much and I watch them both at least one a month.

Los Angeles Rams quarterback Joe Pendleton (Warren Beatty) is about to meet his demise in an accident. A heavenly escort (Buck Henry) plucks him from his body just be for he is dispatched. At the way station he refused to board for his finals destination, complaining the mistake was made. Sure enough Mr. Jordan (James Mason) finds out that the over zealous escort did not wait for the outcome which would not be fatal.

Now they must find him a new body because his old one had been cremated. Not finding an ideal match. He settles for a temporary, Leo Farnsworth; he is ambivalent at first until he meets a girl Betty Logan (Julie Christie) he wants to help. He also want's to get this body in shape for the Superbowl. The fun begins when he has to learn to be Farnsworth, his wife (Dyan Cannon,) and male secretary (Charles Grodin) "lovers" what to kill him.

Will they kill him?

Or will he make the Superbowl?

And what becomes of Betty?

This is based, and I must say much improved on a movie called "Here comes Mr. Jordon" from a play by Harry Segall. Jack Warden plays Joe's friend Max Corkle that ties all the Joe incarnations together.

Joe Pendleton is one of the most delightful and endearing characters of the past 3 decades. It's Warren Beatty's best performance pre-BUGSY and his best directing efforts, surpassing his work on both BUGSY and REDS. HEAVEN CAN WAIT is better than the original HERE COMES MR. JORDAN: It's better cast, better told and extremely heart warming...you ache when Pendleton is taken from earth twice (but not in the order you think would elicit the pain). I hope James Mason is waiting to greet me at the way station.

This has to be one of the nicest films which Warren Beatty has ever been in, and such a likable character, too. He plays the role of a football star who dies suddenly, and is later re-incarnated into another life. Of course his essential character is still the same, and he tries to continue on in his quest to win the Superbowl (a game which he failed to win because of his sudden demise).

There are so many wonderful parts of this film. Jack Warden is superb as the coach who has to be persuaded that it is, indeed, Warren Beatty, and he goes a long way "in faith" to accept it as true, especially in light of the fact that Beatty has entered into the body of a very wealthy man, and the team doesn't want to have some "rich guy" owning the team.

Then there are the "angels," James Mason and Buck Henry, and they are equally good as well, although I can't say I'd buy into seeing real angels look like them. But they are inspiring, in a quirky kind of way.

Last of all, the "love interest" with Julie Christie, and I have to admit that this a film which majors on romance, without the sex, language, and other deleterious side effects of modern day film making.

"Heaven Can Wait" is a great classic film, and you would do well to add it to your collection. A Marvelous soundtrack as well. Highly recommended!!!

Rarely has a story been this whimsical and fun. I own an old, OLD, VHS tape of this and am on the brink of replacing it with a DVD. I saw the original film a long time ago, and (not meaning to cast any negative opinions) remember nothing about it except that it felt heavier and more disjointed. This version is peerless- from the comic, slightly neurotic turn of angel (and co-writer) Buck Henry, to the extremely neurotic, over-the-top performance of socialite wife Dyan Cannon. Her scenes with Charles Grodin ("yes, Mr. Farnsworth") feebly trying to hide their affair are hysterical. The best moments are with the genteel, easygoing James Mason and trainer Jack Warden (a nice guy who I always felt got short-changed at the end of the film). There's also a certain magical quality felt when hearing the line (used several times throughout) "there's nothing to be afraid of." In fact, there isn't.

I was six years old when I saw this film in the theatre and was instantly affected. When it was over, I knew my life's ambition. To become a saxophone playing football quarterback, and fall in love with a beautiful English girl. Well, I never played football or anything more musical than the kazoo, but I still love beautiful English girls, with Christie at the top of my list. I won't go into detail about the plot of the film, other reviewers have done that and mine would pale in comparison. I'll just say that this is a funny, easy film to like with Beatty giving his most mannered comedy performance, with able support by the always funny Grodin, the hit and miss Cannon (who's very on here) the enjoyable Warden and the great James Mason. Add to all this the fact that Julie Christie alone makes any film watchable for me, and I think it's clear that I'm not the most unbiased of reviewers. But still, I love this movie.

Just kidding! I actually suspected I might find a killjoy review that might be along the very lines of my little "headline" above. There are always tut-tutters who'll utter, "God doesn't MAKE mistakes!" (I'm thinking of taking up hip-hop by the way).

But almost everyone seems to be in agreement that this is a charming fantasy with a lot of heart. And they're right. This is a sweet-natured movie, perhaps the lightest fare that Warren Beatty ever produced. And of course, GOD doesn't make mistakes, but bumbling newly promoted angels do, at least in fantasy land. In that, this movie pays homage to earlier classics like "It's A Wonderful Life" as well as its source film, "Here Comes Mr. Jordan."

Speaking of "Mr. Jordan," while many of the reviewers here duly praise Beatty, Julie Christie and comic villains, Dyan Cannon and Charles Grodin (perfect pairing), it also bears mentioning that James Mason is perfectly cast in what would have been the title role if they hadn't gone and changed the title. It's hardly a stretch for him, but like the rest of the cast he seems to be having a great time. In fact, that's one of the secondary pleasures of HEAVEN CAN WAIT. Sometimes, you slog through a particularly painful film, because it's a masterpiece(genuine or reputed), but you figure it had to be agony to make. HEAVEN CAN WAIT is not like that at all. They probably served angel food at the wrap party!

Warren Beatty's re-make of the 1941 comedy-drama "Here Comes Mr. Jordan" is a cheerful gem of a movie, filled with priceless moments and inspired dialogue. Beatty plays a football quarterback who meets with an untimely death, returning to earth as a powerful industrialist.

A powerhouse supporting cast includes Charles Brodin, James Mason and Dyan Cannon Vincent Gardinia. Nominated for 6 Oscars, this box-office smash is filled with laughs and magic moments. One of Hollywood's best!*****