F-0251

Title:

Runaway Bride

Category:

S

Produced:

1999

Country:

USA

Released:

Film: Jul 1999 (USA)
DVD: Jan 2000; May 2002; May 2007 (3-DVD)
VHS: Jan 2000; Jun 2000
Soundtrack: Jul 1999 (CD, MC)

Director:

Garry Marshall

Writer:

Josann McGibbon; Sara Parriott

Actors:

Julia Roberts (Maggie Carpenter); Richard Gere (Ike Graham); Joan Cusack (Peggy Flemming); Hector Elizondo (Fisher); Rita Wilson (Ellie Graham); Paul Dooley (Walter Carpenter); Christopher Meloni (Coach Bob Kelly); Donal Logue (Priest Brian Norris); Reg Rogers (George 'Bug Guy' Swilling); Yul Vazquez (Dead Head Gill Chavez); Jane Morris (Mrs. Pressman); Lisa Roberts Gillan (Elaine from Manhattan); Kathleen Marshall (Cousin Cindy); Jean Schertler (Grandma); Tom Hines (Cory Flemming)

Description:

Ike Graham, New York columnist, writes his text always at the last minute. This time, a drunken man in his favourite bar tells Ike about Maggie Carpenter, a woman who always flees from her grooms in the last possible moment. Ike, who does not have the best opinion about females anyway, writes an offensive column without researching the subject thoroughly. The next day, Ike gets fired by his publisher (and former wife), because he went too far and faked the facts, which real journalists don't do. Ike's only way back into the business now is to do a fact-based report on Maggie and her upcoming fourth wedding attempt, which Ike predicts to fail again. So, as he circles her like a vulture his prey-to-be, Maggie's opinion of Ike sinks below zero. Not only is Ike waiting for her to fail again but the whole town is poking fun at Maggie about her mistakes. But that is a point which Ike doesn't like. (Julian Reischl)

It took nearly a decade to find a mutually agreeable screenplay, but the stars and director of Pretty Woman finally reunited to make Runaway Bride, wisely avoiding any attempt to recapture the 1990 film's elusive magic. The result is a perfectly pleasant romantic comedy that would've fared better critically (despite boffo box office) if it hadn't been overshadowed by its blockbuster predecessor. It's certainly a more credible film than Pretty Woman, trading a far-fetched fairy tale (hooker hooks up with tycoon? bah!) for a more amiably conventional plot about big-city reporter Ike Graham (Richard Gere) who falls for a small-town handywoman Maggie Carpenter (Julia Roberts) with a nasty habit of fleeing from the altar in a recurring state of premarital panic.
Both characters are instantly likable, and the smooth dialogue by Josann McGibbon and Sara Parriott only occasionally panders to sitcom cuteness. And despite his routine sacrifice of subtle craft for commercial appeal, director Garry Marshall knows when to trust his stars and material, lending this movie a casual charm (aided by a terrific supporting cast) that never feels forced or artificial. The whole thing's utterly predictable, riding on the suspenseless question of whether Maggie will dump her sports-nut fiancé (Christopher Meloni) and tie the knot with Ike. It's a foregone conclusion after the usual games of romantic cat and mouse, but the chemistry between Roberts and Gere is undeniable, and with a decade's worth of additional stardom between them, they shine as brightly as ever. (Jeff Shannon, Amazon.com)

A rumpled and eccentric romantic comedy with a fluctuating pulse and more odd corners than a rural junk shop. Julia Roberts is a bolter-a girl unsure of her identity, who keeps running away from men at the altar-and Richard Gere, who has developed a new, becomingly wistful manner, is a sardonic New York newspaper columnist who shows up in Roberts's small Maryland town to turn her story into news. The two are drawn together by self-dissatisfaction and bafflement. Garry Marshall, who directed, takes his time exploring the town, and the movie that results is poky but often charming. With the invaluable Joan Cusack, goofing her way through long scenes of arguing and teASINg, as Roberts's best friend. Written by the team of Josann McGibbon and Sara Parriott. (David Denby, Copyright © 2006 The New Yorker)

Returning to the partnership of Gere and Roberts, RUNAWAY BRIDE is a light-hearted revisit to the magic of Pretty Woman. It's a pleasant, light hearted tale, with a happy ending! Roberts lights up the screen, and from the very beginning she is Cinderella, Snow White, and Rapunzel all rolled into one. Ike Graham (GERE), New York columnist, writes his text always at the last minute. This time, a drunken man in his favourite bar tells Ike about Maggie Carpenter (ROBERTS), a woman who always flees from her grooms in the last possible moment. Ike, who does not have the best opinion about females anyway, writes an offensive column without researching the subject thoroughly. The next day, Ike gets fired by his publisher (and former wife), because he went too far and faked the facts, which real journalists don't do. Ike's only way back into the business now is to do a fact-based report on Maggie and her upcoming fourth wedding attempt, which Ike predicts to fail again. So, as he circles her like a vulture his pray-to-be, Maggie's opinion of Ike sinks below zero. Not only is Ike waiting for her to fail again but the whole town is poking fun at Maggie about her mistakes. But that is a point which Ike doesn't like. It's a fairytale for grown up girls, who want to escape into fantasy land. For that feel-good factor, RUNAWAY BRIDE never fails to impress.

Language:

English

TT:

116 min / 101 min (DVD, Showtime) / 370 minutes (3-DVD)

J.S. Bach's Music:

Chorale Jesu Joy of Man's Desiring (Mvt. 10) from Cantata BWV 147
Air (Mvt. 2) from Orchestral Suite No. 3 in D major, BWV 1068
All Arranged and Performed by Anthony Newman (Organ)
From: The Wedding Album (Sony) [R-13]
Courtesy of Sony Classical, by arrangement with Sonic Music Licensing

Format:

Film: Color (DeLuxe), DTS / Dolby Digital
DVD: See below.
VHS: See below.
Soundtrack: CD; MC

Company:

Film: Interscope Communications; Lakeshore Entertainment; Paramount Pictures; Touchstone Pictures
DVD: Paramount; Showtime Entertainment
VHS: Paramount; Paramount Home Video
Soundtrack: Sony [CD, MC]

Comments:

3-DV D Set includes: Richard Gere Triple Feature (An Officer and a Gentleman / Primal Fear / Runaway Bride)
2-VHS Includes: Pretty Woman / Runaway Bride

Watch selections:

Buy movie at:

DVD: Amazon.com [Anamorphic, Closed-captioned, Color, Dolby, Widescreen, NTSC, Region 1] | Amazon.com [Anamorphic, Closed-captioned, Color, Dolby, Widescreen, NTSC, Region 1] | Amazon.com [NTSC, Region 2] | Amazon.com [PAL, Region 2, German] | Amazon.com [Closed-captioned, Color, Widescreen, NTSC, Unknown Region] | Amazon.com [PAL, Region 2] | Amazon.com [Anamorphic, NTSC, Region 2]
3-DVD: Amazon.com [Box set, Color, Widescreen, NTSC, Region 1]
VHS: Amazon.com [Closed-captioned, Color, Full Screen, HiFi Sound, NTSC] | Amazon.com [PAL, German] | Amazon.com [Color, NTSC] | Amazon.com [PAL] | Amazon.com [Closed-captioned, Color, HiFi Sound, Special Edition, Subtitled, NTSC] | Amazon.com [Touchstone Home Video / Buena Vista]
2-VHS: Amazon.com [PAL]
Soundtrack: Amazon.com [CD] | Amazon.com [MC]

DVD>
2-CD> VHS>

2-VHS> CD> MC>

Source/Links: IMDB
Contributor: Aryeh Oron (November 2007)