Return to Me - A Movie Review

Our hearts will go on. There is a reason for our connections.

Released to theaters in 2000, Return to Me is a heartwarming film about a woman who undergoes a heart transplant. This is not just any heart. Tragically, Bob’s wife died in an accident. One year later, still mending their scars, Bob and Gracie meet based on a familiar connection.

Miracles do exist. Return to Me is a heartfelt film (no pun intended). Healing from any wound whether it is a scar or loss is tough. No matter what, we can never fight our battles alone. Return to Me expresses a monumental message about love, courage, and learning to heal from emotional scars.

Loss is never easy. On a glorious night, Bob never thought he was going to lose his wife to a tragic accident. Ever since I watched David Duchovney’s performance in House of D, I was excited to see what he could do here. Duchovney explores the very emotional side of the male perspective while attempting to keep everything bottled up.

Self-conscious of the scar on her chest, Gracie is finally living the life that she was kept from experiencing. Minnie Driver was excellent. She did a wonderful job manifesting the right emotion, and even a funny sense of humor. Because Gracie always had an obstacle, she is anxious about living her own life, relying on others. Her journey is impactful as she gains resilience and courage.

Drawn to Gracie, I adore the relationship that develops between them. Their interactions are sweet. But, they are still avoiding their inward battles. Learning about a profound secret, Bob and Gracie’s relationship is put to a test.

I love any film with Bonnie Hunt. Hunt is one of my favorite characters in Return to Me. As Gracie’s supportive sister, Megan has a lot of duties in her big family. From bickering with her husband, scrambling the children up to get them to bed, and everything about her relationship with her own husband (Jim Belushi) are the best parts.

The film spends time getting to know supporting characters. I love films that do that. In the little time that we meet Bob’s friendly zoologist wife Elizabeth (Joely Richardson), I feel I’ve always known her. One of the warmest characters in the film was Gracie’s grandfather Marty (Carroll O’Connor). His cheerful and motivating personality made me smile.

Other credits to include are Robert Loggia, David Alan Grier, Eddie Jones, Marianne Muellerleile, and many more. Scenes with the grandfather and his friends are humorous as they comment on everything, share stories, and just being silly, however, they took away from the film at times.

The editing for Return to Me deserves a shoutout. The beginning of the film is impactful. As a song is drifting in the background during a happy moment, in the next scene the mood takes a complete turn, painting a different meaning. We don’t need to see everything.

As I am writing this review, I did not realize that Bonnie Hunt directed and wrote Return to Me! I am so inspired by all her hard work to bring out the emotions and an impactful story to an audience. Her direction beautifully cements little moments of life. While I enjoyed the film, I was not fond of a decision that draws out the film in the third act.

There are several meaningful messages and themes in the film. Nobody is ever alone. You’ll always have a sibling to count on. And healing takes time. Return to Me is an example of human kindness and miracles. It is a noteworthy film that I recommend to all audiences.