‘Return to Me’ (2000) Review

Return to Me Synopsis: It took a lot of cajoling to get Bob, a recently widowed architect, to go on a blind date at a quirky Irish-Italian eatery. Once there, he’s smitten instantly not with his date but with the sharp-witted waitress. Everything seems to be going great until an unbelievable truth is revealed, one that could easily break both of their hearts for good.


Return To Me (2000)
Starring: David Duchovny, Minnie Driver
Directed by: Bonnie Hunt
Written by: Bonnie Hunt, Don Lake
Released: 04.07.2000
Runtime: 115 minutes
Rated: PG

After the death of his wife, Elizabeth, Bob (David Duchovny) has a difficult time moving on. When he finally agrees to a blind date, he finds himself more smitten with the restaurant’s waitress, Grace (Minnie Driver), than his date. The two begin to see one another and soon realize that Grace, a transplant recipient, received Elizabeth’s heart after her death.

It had been some time since I sawĀ Return to Me, but I decided to give it another watch after my rewatch of The X-Files. Obviously, Duchovny will always be Fox Mulder to me, but occasionally, I do like to see him in a different kind of role. While a bit maudlin, I did enjoy his role as Bob. He had already perfected the art of dry wit as Mulder, but it turns out Duchovny is also quite an affable romantic lead.

The always-reliable Minnie Driver is adorable and funny in this movie but shines when her character is at her most vulnerable. Together, Driver and Duchovny share the right kind of easy chemistry needed to make such an unbelievable premise work.

Writer and director Bonnie Hunt weaves a romantic comedy that, shockingly, feels grounded in reality. The talented supporting cast, consisting of David Alan Grier, Caroll O’Connor, Robert Loggia, Jim Belushi, and Hunt herself, surround Grace and Bob with plenty of old-world wisdom and support. It’s a testament to Hunt and Don Lake’s script, which is full of humor, sweetness, and plenty of all-too-human moments that make it feel relatable rather than outlandish.

If you are looking for a sizzling rom-com, you won’t find it in Return to Me. Grace and Bob remain relatively chaste as a couple, as Grace is insecure about her surgery scar, and Bob is still navigating his own feelings after the death of his wife. But not every romantic comedy needs a hot, beneath-the-sheets romp. Grace and Bob fall in love despite the lack of physical intimacy, and I have to credit Hunt for making Grace and Bob’s love story just sweet enough without hedging into overly sappy territory.

Return to Me is not for the cynical or those who like an edge to their rom-coms. This movie is unapologetically romantic. It’s a solid directorial debut for Bonnie Hunt, with lovely chemistry between Driver and Duchovny and the perfect romantic comedy to watch when you’re looking for something cozy and sweet.

Return To Me 'Return To Me' (2000) Review

Watched: 11.08.2024
Notable Song: Return to Me by Dean Martin

Rating:

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