Hope Springs (2003)

People are voting emotionally.

Best movie ever!

Good films always raise compelling questions, whether the format is fiction or documentary fact.

Like the great film, it's made with a great deal of visible affection both in front of and behind the camera.

This is one of the worst movies I have ever seen. It came as part of a 3 pack of movies and it had Colin Firth in it so I thought I would give it a try. It was ridiculous....a total waste of film. Colin is an English artist and has come to America because his ex-fiancé says she has run off with someone else. Apparently, he is invited to the wedding or something but he never goes there. He immediately meets Heather Graham's character and on the first "date" she gets drunk and they have sex....so they are having sex....there's not much else to their relationship....and Minnie Driver (the ex-fiancé) shows up and says that she was just kidding about getting married to someone else...she just wanted Colin to get jealous and finally marry her. Apparently they have been together for years. So Minnie Driver's character is supposed to be this total bitch which makes you wonder why she and Colin were together in the first place. The main characters are shallow. They are not very likable. Colin has strung Minnie's character along for years. He sleeps with Heather Graham and they eventually become engaged but you really don't see much chemistry between them. Minnie's character stays around and bugs the couple even after it obvious that she and Colin have nothing left....kind of pathetic. The story is boring. The best character is the mayor. The hotel owners are also more interesting than the main characters.

I'd give this movie a 6.5I thought it was a fun romantic comedy.I think Colin Firth does a good job as usual.I don't even care for Minnie or Heather however, I thought they both gave good performances.**spoiler alert** I didn't think there was any need to show Heather Graham chugging down a bunch of booze on their first date - seemed a bit off to say the least. I get that was the intent but was a bit excessive and off the character I thought.I liked it. It was silly but not overly so.

I'm not easily amused but this fun movie has a lot going for it.The photography's great and the scenery is likewise. The cast is energetic and easy on the eye. Most of all, the story doesn't take itself too seriously.There's some minor elements of clichéd expression but I can't recall anyone falling over and (more importantly) no one falls into the swimming pool as seemed likely at one stage.The character playing 'Fisher' the motel manager's husband was memorable as much for his appearance and delivery as his lines. Watch for one of his soliloquies where Colin Firth could be mistaken for John Cleese It's all good fun!

Colin Ware (Colin Firth), a Brit, decides to jet off to the town of Hope in New England. This is because his fiancé (Minnie Driver) sent him an invitation to her wedding ceremony with another man! Colin, an artist, is the talk of the local residents, where newcomers are few and far between. Mistaking jet lag for a more serious mental condition, his new landlord (Mary Steenbergen) arranges for him to meet Mandy (Heather Graham), a nursing home employee with a penchant for helping others reduce their stress level. Mandy, a total free spirit, drinks a bit too much at one of their first meetings and ends up spending the night with Colin. Talk about what the doctor ordered! This is just the distraction that Colin needs. But, is their budding relationship merely a blip on the radar of life? What an absolute joy this film is! It's funny, its sweet and its clever. Firth is outstanding as the stuffy Brit who learns to let loose in his new surroundings, giving one of his best performances ever. Graham, too, is charming as the small city girl with brains and a big, big heart. Driver, no surprise, is also fine as the lady who just may be realizing what she lost. The rest of the cast is equally nice. As for the New England setting in the fall, it is beyond lovely and adds mightily to the film's enjoyment, as do the great costumes and production values. All romantic comedy fans, spring out of your seat this minute, if you have never seen this film, and run straight to the video store or library. It is made-to-order for YOU. But, even if you are not a romcom nut, you will still like this very funny, very touching film. It has charms to sooth the savage beast, that is for sure.