Just Like Heaven

By Brandi M. Seals

Last night I taped Lost and Jericho for my husband who was busy at work. I decided rather than be subjected to watching the shows twice; I should find something better to do with my time. So as I flipped through the channels I came across Just Like Heaven on HBO.

I had wanted to see the movie when it came out but decided it probably was not worth going to the movies for, I would rent it eventually. Well, for all of you out there that are curious - I liked it. I was as cheesy as you could imagine but overall it was a good movie.

Just Like Heaven stars Reece Witherspoon, Jon Heder and Mark Ruffalo. It tells the story of an overworked doctor, Elizabeth (Witherspoon), who never takes any time for herself. Elizabeth has just been promoted as an attending when she gets into a horrible accident. She was heading over to her sister's house for a blind date, when she gets hit head on by a truck.

The movie then switches gears and we meet David (Ruffalo). David is in search of a new place. He looks at several apartments before coming upon one that he has to have - Elizabeth's apartment.

David seems like a slacker. He does not appear to have a job and spends his time drinking beer. One night when he is drinking, he sees Elizabeth in the apartment. She thinks he is a mentally unstable person who is convinced he lives in her house. He comes to think that she is a ghost.

David does everything he can to get rid of his unwelcome ghost. He reads books, hires a priest to do an exorcism. There is a long list of people that come in to cleanse the house of Elizabeth's spirit but nothing works. Then he brings over Darryl (Heder). Darryl works at the bookstore where David bought books on the supernatural and he seems to have a knack for feeling the presence of spirits.

When Darryl comes over to the apartment to inspect, he tells David that he is wrong. The spirit with him is too strong to be dead. David and Elizabeth do not really know what that means or know how to find out more about her but slowly they come across clues that lead them to Elizabeth's body. She has been in a coma for 3 months, ever since the car accident.

I will not spoil the ending of this film for you, but needless to say there will be some sap to it. And you will find yourself saying "yeah right" on occasion. Ladies, if you have yourself a macho man who despises "chick flicks," you will want to watch this one solo because your man will never shut up about having to sit through this one. It would be almost as bad as watching The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants together.

All in all, I like the film. I think Jon Heder was excellent. I have a hard time watching him in anything since Napolean Dynamite (if you ever want to torture someone, make them sit through this awful movie) but he did great in Just Like Heaven.

Reese Witherspoon was once again a cute and loveable character. She seems most comfortable staying in that kind of role. I have loved her ever since she made The Man in the Moon in 1991.

Mark Ruffalo on the other hand is hard to watch. He has this vacant stare that reminds me of stoners from high school. He also never quit shuts his mouth. I guess he leaves it opened to catch flies. I find it hard to see him as a romantic match for any woman, let alone Reese Witherspoon's character. I hate to say it, but Ruffalo is unattractive. I know it is biased and unfair but no one really wants to see unattractive people falling in love.

I think viewers could have gotten passed the fact that Ruffalo is not much of a looker, but when coupled with the stare and opened mouth stance, he is nearly intolerable. I hope this is not a reflection of Ruffalo's acting abilities. I am holding out hope that some poor misguided director told him to do it.