Just Like Heaven Synopsis: A lonely landscape architect falls for the spirit of the beautiful woman who used to live in his new apartment.
Elizabeth is a physician who puts the term workaholic to shame. One night, on her way to her sister’s house to meet a blind date, she’s in a car accident that finds her in a coma. Unaware of her plight, Elizabeth the ghost finds a strange man named David in her apartment, who claims he is subletting her apartment. Together, they try to find out what happened to Elizabeth and if there is a way to save her before the hospital finally pulls the plug.
This movie was adorable. But what would you expect from a movie with Reese Witherspoon and Mark Ruffalo? Just Like Heaven is one of those movies where you push all logic and reason out the window and get swept along in the romance of it all. It’s a very straightforward plot – the girl is stuck in limbo between life and death, and the cute guy helps her return to the living. Wouldn’t you know it? She brings him back to life, too. Aw!
Along the way, Elizabeth realizes there is more to life than work, and David is able to heal from a previous loss by helping Elizabeth. What I loved about this romantic comedy was that there was no need for exaggerated drama, miscommunications leading to breakups, etc. The conflict is death – potential death – and whether it’s something David and Elizabeth can overcome.
Reese Witherspoon and Mark Ruffalo are equally charming here as the overworked doctor and angsty widower. They complimented each other quite well. Ruffalo puts his comedic chops on display again. One of my favorite parts of the movie is when David questions his sanity or publicly talks to Elizabeth where no one else can see her.
He does it exceptionally well, and I would say most of the film’s laugh-out-loud moments occur when he and Elizabeth are bickering with an audience. The supporting cast was minimal, but I always loved seeing Donal Logue pop up, and Jon Heder was… well, Jon Heder. He’s an oddball, but he had some funny moments too.
Honestly, there’s not much to say about Just Like Heaven. It’s a very typical, fantasy-based romantic comedy, but because of its talented leads and their chemistry together, it’s heartwarming and lovely. You know where this journey will end, but watching it happen is still a lot of fun, especially as Elizabeth and David move beyond their initial hostility to find common ground and love is still a lot of fun. It’s not groundbreaking, but it’s sweet and entertaining, so I would recommend watching Just Like Heaven.
Watched: 01/13/2022
Notable Song: Just Like Heaven by The Cure
