Bears striking similarities in story and character to THE ACCIDENTAL TOURIST

Rating: 10/10 (4 July 2002)

I thoroughly enjoyed this film, as it is deftly written, acted and directed. However, I cannot help but be surprised at the striking similarities it bears to THE ACCIDENTAL TOURIST (1988). I have never heard anyone compare the two films despite how close they are. Both are about well-to-do writers, played here by Jack Nicholson and in "Tourist" by William Hurt. In both films the writers meet a young single mother who is not very well off financially (Helen Hunt here and Geena Davis in "Tourist). Both mothers have a young son, and in both films the son is sick and the writer helps the mother out financially to take care of her child! Also, in both films the writer fall for the young mother. If that is not enough, both films contain dogs who do lots of funny tricks and are often the center of attention! These cannot be coincidences and since I have never heard or read about the similarities, I thought I would bring them to attention.