Chasing Destiny (2001)

Redundant and unnecessary.

Fantastic!

An old-fashioned movie made with new-fashioned finesse.

A clunky actioner with a handful of cool moments.

What a pleasant surprise this movie was! It does have some of the ingredients of a "romantic comedy", but it is far more than that and deserves a better promotion. In fact, it's an intelligent, yet simple film about love and death (just a couple of those fundamental themes). The atmosphere is beautiful, and the plot is good and straightforward, although the screenplay has some neglected moments. But all in all it's a good film, that everyone could watch. It has good directing and first of all excellent acting (excepting the male lead - is he really an actor?). Lloyd is good of course, Daltrey is memorable, but above all the real treat is Lauren Graham.The woman is just fabulous, and I don't mean only that she was arguably the most beautiful and charming woman on screen in recent years, but also a fabulous actress. Her wide-range, profound and natural performance is just perfect and gives the movie a great deal of its charm, fun, appeal and emotion. Hats off! May she get soon the great roles that her amazing skill and talent deserved!

The plot is great. I loved Laureen Graham - she's always fun to watch. But Casper Van Dien...well, I don't think so. For me he was the biggest flaw of the movie, as well as his character. A guy, macho type, writes poetry (bad one) and is much too feminine. Not believable. His character made the whole story superficial. Another thing that bothered me was Jessy spending the last night of her father's life with another guy, thinking about her father but that was it. She hasn't seen him in 3 years, she came to L.A. to be with him, yet she spends her time looking for the cat, cooking for the date,... That would make sense if she and her father were fighting, but they're not. She loves him, he loves her and yet he spends his last night with his best friend and she with a lover. So much left unsaid and no one bothers to change that. Not believable again. I think it's a waste of a great plot and cast (with exception of Van Dien) on a below average movie.

Anyone who has rented more than two videos knows that you can't always rely on the words on the back of the box to give you an accurate description of the movie within. So this time you'll get a nice surprise. This is not a big splashy movie. There is one short, funny chase, but no car chases, and although there are a few guns in evidence, no one comes anywhere near getting shot. This is what you might call a relationship movie, moved along by scenes involving lovers who may (or may not) be separated by deception, a parent and child trying to patch up a, well, patchy relationship before it's too late, and old friends just trying to survive in a world they've almost outlived. The cast works well together and makes you hope that everything will turn out well for all of these characters. Casper Van Dien as the writer turned repo man turns in a performance that is smooth, funny, sexy, charming, and even subtle. Johnny Rico a romantic quoting Swinburne? Tarzan writing poetry? Well, yes. It works. Bobby Moritz may have a slick side, but you believe that he can be redeemed by love. Back To The Future's wild-eyed crazy man as a cranky but toned-down and ultimately lovable retired rock star? Well, yes again. After all, he's dying, he's not supposed to have the nutty professor's manic energy and purpose, and Christopher Lloyd shows that he has more gears than over-the-top. Roger Daltrey is almost unrecognizable, but still likable, as a seventies leftover who has neither cut his hair nor lost his talent-or stopped drinking-and Lauren Graham as the woman Bobby may (or may not) be destined to love forever plays sassy but vulnerable very well. The only scenes that are funny are the ones that are supposed to be, everything moves right along, you can actually care about the fate of the characters, and the ending jam session is a blast. A charming and funny love story-just like the box says.

I really liked this movie, it has great comedy, but a sweet love/hate relationship. I thought it was a movie that contained all emotions from love to hate, and everything in between. Casper did a great job as always. I was lead to the movie for the cast, but enjoyed it enough to try to find a copy for sale here in Australia. I say if you wish to watch this movie, please bring your tissues along