Festivale online magazine
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Forces of Nature movie review

It's Planes, Trains and Automobiles and buses, and runners as Sandra Bullock and Ben Affleck make their disaster-ridden way across America.

The story starts out with a burst of a balloon and finishes with a burst of thunder. It follows the lengths Ben (Affleck) must go to in order to get to his wedding to Bridget (Maura Tierney). The adventure starts when Ben's plane crashes even before take off. Its on this plane he meets Sarah (Bullock). The two agree to help each other get to Savannah. Unfortunately the trip is dotted with one disaster after another. From being arrested, to missing the train, to having to strip to earn money to buy a car.

This all sounds difficult enough but Ben is having doubts about his wedding to Bridget, everyone he meets has some horror story about marriage. Everyone including Sarah who Ben starts to develop feelings for.

On the whole it's an average romantic comedy, Bullock and Affleck's performance seem a little lack luster. The best scene is in the bar where a strip tease performance is required to earn enough money to be able to make it to Savannah on time. It is this scene where the characters seem to let go and immerse themselves into their characters.

Maura Tierney in Forces of Nature
I have to say thought that the final scene between Ben and Bridget is a little silly. Here the hurricane is in full force, furniture and people are being tossed about, but the two main characters in this scene look like they are stuck in a stiff breeze rather than a full force hurricane.

At the cinema this film is for the true romantics only. I'd personally wait for a half price night or for it to come out on video.

Just the facts: Title: Forces of Nature (1999) Written by: Marc Lawrence Directed by: Bronwen Hughes Produced by: Susan Arnold, Donna Arkoff Roth, Ian Bryce Edited by: Craig Wood Director of Photography: Elliot Davis running time: rating:

The Players: Sandra Bullock, Ben Affleck, Maura Tierney

Official website: www.asylum.com/forcesofnature

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