Bounce

Plot synopsis:
In Chicago's O'Hare airport, advertising executive Buddy Amaral (Ben Affleck) is delayed by a snow storm for a return flight to Los Angeles, on the same airline he has just signed as a big client. He meets writer Greg Janello (Tony Goldwyn), and when his flight resumes boarding, Buddy gives his ticket to Greg so he can get home to his sons, 12-year old Scott (Alex D. Linz) and 8-year old Joey (David Dorfman). Buddy convinces his friend and airline employee Janice Guerrero (Jennifer Grey) to allow Greg to take his place on the flight. While spending the night with fellow stranded passenger Mimi (Natasha Henstridge), Buddy sees on television that the flight crashed. He has Janice check into the computer system to remove his name from the passenger manifest and add Greg's name.
Greg's wife Abby (Gwyneth Paltrow) is woken up by news of the crash, and for many hours is torn between hope and despair, clinging to the belief that Greg would still arrive on the later flight on which he was originally booked, until his death is confirmed.
Once back in L.A., the airline dictates that Buddy run a series of innocuous ads to ameliorate the tragic consequences of the crash, even winning a Clio award. Crushed by guilt, Buddy drunkenly (and publicly) begins a stint in Alcoholics Anonymous. One of the steps in recovery is to make up for past deeds, with Buddy seeking out Abby, a budding realtor. Giving her a tip on a commercial office building that Jim (Joe Morton), Buddy's partner and boss, has put a bid on, in return, Abby treats Buddy to a night at Dodger Stadium. Their relationship blossoms, although both have secrets.
Buddy gets close to the whole family, and Abby reveals that she is not divorced; her husband died in an aircraft crash. When the airline settles with Greg's estate, she next wants to put her boys on an aircraft to Palm Springs to get over their fear of flying. Buddy asks to go along with them, and soon develops a strong bond with the two boys. On the return trip, Buddy says he has a secret he will reveal the next day.
It all comes apart when Mimi shows up, with a video of Greg and Buddy having a drink in the airport bar. Abby is devastated by Buddy lying to her and demands that he leave her home and her life - though also demanding that he say goodbye to the boys. This does not sit well with anyone. Buddy comes back the next day and talks to Scott, who feels that his father died trying to get home for a Scout Christmas tree outing.
The relatives sue the airline for damages, and Janice's role is revealed when Buddy is called to testify. As Abby watches on television, Buddy explains that gave his ticket to Greg and did not take Greg's in exchange. In coercing Janice to change the roster, the airline's security procedures were compromised, getting her fired. Buddy remembered that Greg was not the good flier he once was, having had "too many people in his wallet". Buddy is excused by the judge, but does not feel "excused". Abby had harbored the same guilt as her son in pressuring Greg to come home on the fateful flight.
In being honest and facilitating the suit against the airline, Buddy realizes that he has to resign from his firm. Abby comes by to tell him that his talk with Scott had helped them both. Buddy, sensing that Abby is about to leave, asks her to help him rent his beachfront home or put it up for sale. As Buddy starts to talk about his plans, Abby realizes she can forgive him.

Tags: romantic

Review:
Ben Affleck stars as Buddy Amaral, an arrogant hotshot advertising exec, who, in a rare moment of kindness, offers his seat on an airplane to a young writer desperate to get home to his wife and kids for the holidays.
In addition to Buddy's character-building, we see Abby trying desperately to overcome the bewildering tragedy that has befallen her, unsure of how to deal with her own feelings of loss, guilt and anger that inevitable arise from such a situation.Affleck and Paltrow bring such an air of thoughtfulness and maturity to their roles that we find ourselves genuinely caught up in their predicament and rooting them on all the way.
The movie also achieves additional depth and weight in its exploration of the vagaries of fate as many of the characters examine the `what if' scenarios that haunt anyone caught up in a situation like this one.`Bounce' is well written, directed and acted.
A tragic brush with fate sets a man on a road to self awareness and discovery that drastically alters his perception of himself and the world in which he lives, in `Bounce,' directed by Don Roos and starring Ben Affleck and Gwyneth Paltrow.
In  Chicago on business, waiting at the airport for a flight back to L.A. just before Christmas, Advertising Exec/salesman Buddy Amaral (Affleck) gives his ticket to a man he's met that evening in the lounge, Greg Janello (Tony Goldwyn), who's just been bumped from his flight.
A writer, in Chicago for the opening (and sadly, the closing) of one of his plays, Janello has a wife, Abby (Gwyneth Paltrow), and two kids waiting for him at home, and is grateful for Buddy's apparent random act of kindness.
And what makes this film so good is the gradual way the relationship between Buddy and Abby is formed, neither hurried nor forced, with a couple of truly poignant moments along the way.
I wasn't touched after I finished viewing this formulaic romance, since I pretty much saw what was coming--but it's a likeable, feel-good movie thanks to the charming performances.
However, Gwyneth Paltrow and Ben Affleck are surprisingly good and have a nice chemistry, in a good and warm date movie.7/10.
IMHO, she looked rather attractive just the way she was.OK, having got that off my chest, I am one of those who like Bounce, despite Affleck's limitations as an actor and the somewhat predictable plot.
And as for those who would have liked more sizzle in the romance between Affleck and Paltrow, remember, this is a film that also has the death of Abby's husband as its constant backdrop, hence, the film's rather understated treatment of their romance, I think..
BOUNCE (2000) ***1/2 Ben Affleck, Gwyneth Paltrow, Joe Morton, Natasha Henstridge, Jennifer Grey, Tony Goldwyn, Johnny Galecki, Caroline Aaron, Alex D.
Excellent romantic drama tinged with equal parts tragedy and comedy with Affleck (in one of his best roles to date) as a charming alcoholic ad exec who sobers up after a year of harboring a guilt-plagued secret: - giving his plane ticket to family man Goldwyn en route home only to die in a plane crash killing all aboard  and seeking out the widow to make amends.
If you ask me, the way that Buddy (Ben Affleck) and Abby (Gwyneht Paltrow) met was pure magic.
Before I wrap this up, I'd like to say, "This is a perfect movie to see with the one you love!" Now, in conclusion, to all you Ben Affleck or Gwyneth Paltrow fans that have not seen this heart-warming, hilarious, romantic, and touching romantic drama, I highly recommend it!
I didn't regret.The movie deals with a huge natural tragedy that nobody could prevent from happening, and many events will focus around it including a love story, parenting, alcoholism, rehab, difficult job decisions, etc."Bound" is overall a great romantic comedy with a dramatic plot center so in my opinion this is a very clever romantic film.The performances are very good.
His facial expressions when talking about Greg's death are really convincing and help the movie's tone.Gwyneth Paltrow is as beautiful as ever and delivers a tender performance.
I never even heard of this movie when it was in the theaters, not that that's anything all that new - but if Affleck and Paltrow were going to appear in it, it was worth a look-see.
I just wanted to watch something I didn't have to think too hard about.I did find the story idea interesting; about a man who gives up his seat on a plane to another man (basically so he can get it on with fellow stranded passenger Natasha Henstridge) Minutes after takeoff the plane crashes.
It's been there all along, we just didn't think about it.While Ben Affleck acquits himself well, it's really Gwyneth Paltrow's performance that rings the most true and provides the film's emotional heart.
Enjoy the acting of Gwyneth Paltrow, (Abby Janello) who plays the role of a woman who lost her husband in a plane crash and is struggling with her love for him and the big hole it has left in her heart.
In a very mysterious way this has effected the live of Buddy Amaral, (Ben Afflick) who met Abby's husband at O'Hare Airport in Chicago and had a few drinks with him and offered him his tickets on the plane he was scheduled to fly out on.
Don Roos directs and writes this enjoyable romantic comedy which stars Ben Affleck and Gwyneth Paltrow who meet up by fate in this film.
They are both great as Buddy Amaral and Abby Janello and have some good chemistry in the film.
I like Ben Affleck and Gwyneth Paltrow but this movie does not reflect their greatest performances.This is a story about two men who switch plane tickets and when the one plane crashes and kills the passengers on board, the other man feels horrified and guilty, so he decides to find the deceased man's wife to tell her what happened to her husband.
Not sure whether Ive been blinded by the sentimental appeal situations like this have for me - but this seemed a quite refreshing, thought provoking movie - certainly worth a look.One particular scene caught the eye.
Ben Affleck takes on the typical Tom Cruise character (real jerk finds his conscience through trials and tribulations in life and love), but surprisingly does a much better job.
I'm sure even their proud parents can't watch these scenes without wincing.And then there is the story itself, which is mind-numbingly stupid and precipitated on the most bizarre coincidence: the guy who gave away his ticket in the unlucky death flight, just happens to work at the company which handles the crashed airline's PR.
I am a fan of Gwyneth Paltrow but I did not expect BOUNCE to be a great movie as it had too much of the "Hollywood" touch: two beautiful people (Ben and Gwyneth) who used to date in a romantic comedy - PPLLLEEAASSEEE!
Slow, relatively uneventful (even with that plot kicker), a little sloppy, and far from the worst movie I've seen this month.It's true that Affleck and Paltrow don't ignite the celluloid, but this can hardly come as a surprise.
(Why is it that filmmakers, who are literally in bed with advertising and tv people -- who ARE ad and tv people -- can never seem to get those professions right?)From a technical angle, "Bounce" is generally competent (not that the story provides much of a challenge in that department), although it does have one odd continuity problem: In a couple of unrelated beach-condo scenes (that were obviously filmed at the same time), Paltrow's hair and eyebrows are a different (and more glamourous) style and color than they are in surrounding scenes.
Bounce tells an improbable story in a realistic way and in the end we feel pretty good about how the writers, director and actors have put it together.
I am glad that they didn't dwell on Buddy's alcohol problems, because they aren't the story, instead the movie dwells on how one man's attempt at coming to grips with fate (another man dies when they trade places on a airplane) and absolve himself from grief by helping the widow goes awry, they fall in love.Of course the secret must come out, and when it does the cost must be equal to the length of time it took to get out.
Thanks in part to the charm of Ben Affleck and Gwyneth Paltrow and to a last minute change of script they do and we can.
We like the characters and feel good about they way they act..
But in the end, the off screen chemistry between Ben Affleck and the brilliant Gwyneth Paltrow proves to play well for the thematic elements in BOUNCE.
In BOUNCE, Ben Affleck proves his worth to all those who failed to spot it in CHASING AMY, and GOOD WILL HUNTING.
Fortunately, BOUNCE proves for it's two stars that given a stellar story, Affleck and Paltrow are indeed two of Hollywood's best.3/4.
This is a decent (but not great) romantic drama/comedy about Buddy (Ben Affleck), an advertising executive who gives his airplane ticket to Greg (Tony Goldwyn), a stranger he meets during a flight delay.
Oddly, although Affleck and Paltrow dated for a while, they don't seem to have very good chemistry onscreen (perhaps that's why they broke up).This is a fair story with good actors who are cast poorly, and a director who meanders too much.
Ben Affleck gives a surprisingly bad performance as a man who must confront a widow after her husband dies on a plane crash that he was supposed to be on (he and Mr. Dead Guy had switched tickets).
Gwyneth Paltrow is the hapless widow and does very well in her performance (mops the floor up with poor Ben actually), but soon plot contrivances and preposterously cheesy speeches that ring less and less true as the film goes on get in her way of making the film a memorable experience.
On top of that, I believe that Paltrow's more expressively emotional character, Abby, who is also emotionally needy (sometimes easier to act) at the time of meeting Buddy, would believe Buddy felt all that we're led to believe he felt (by the way, this is the first movie I really liked Paltrow in).
I, too, was uncomfortable that maybe Affleck was dropping the ball in those emotion scenes, but for me, it bounced right back into his hands and I found that I really felt for Buddy, genuinely intrigued by his character.
The storyline is simple and does not require much thought and the ending is highly predictable and soppy.Ben Affleck is good but nothing special and in my opinion Gwyneth Paltrow is as bad as ever (what's with all that blinking?!).
Buddy's cautious courtship of Abby has some sweet moments, moments enhanced by the tension the audience feels by knowing the bottom could drop out at any moment.For Roos, the movie is a distinctly commercial follow-up to his dark festival-hit comedy "The Opposite of Sex".
His former flame Paltrow (the two had already broken-up by the time they made the movie -- or so they claim) did win her Oscar for acting but, ironically, she is less stellar as the suffering Abby.
BOUNCE [Miramax]: A sometimes effective romantic drama with Ben Affleck as a man who gives his plane ticket to another man then watches in horror as the plane crashes.
The grief stricken Affleck then seeks out the man's widow (Gwyneth Paltrow) and winds up falling in love with her, until the truth comes out.
This movie starring Ben Afleck and Gwyneth Paltrow was by far not the worst romanctic comedy I have seen.
With its normal romantic comedy humor and slightly less the formula plot I would say that this is overall a good movie however doesn't even come close to bumping about of the top 250 out of their coveted slots.
The two of them don't really seem to like each other very much and there was more of a charge in the brief scenes between Affleck and Jennifer Grey than there was between Affleck and Paltrow in the entire movie.This one is a real disappointment..
You might have seen this one or two times before: a smirking, materialistic, skirt-chasing wiseacre discoverstrue love and true values and gives up his maverick ways.Since Tom Cruise has played this character seventeen times, it's Ben Affleck's turn this time.
Affleck doesn't ruin the film because he's playing a wise ass, smirking, good looking guy - but watch out when the role calls for him to be real - didn't they have an onion anywhere on the lot to help him cry?
Bounce is a good little film - credit Roos and Paltrow for carrying this thing and making Affleck an irrelevance - the guy is an empty suit..
`Bounce' is a romantic film starring Ben Affleck and Gwyneth Paltrow.
The one aspect of the film that does bounce high on my list was the acting of Gwyneth Paltrow.
At the beginning I felt sympathy for the characters, but Affleck's set-up as an alcoholic was facile, clicheed and too lightly sketched, and the story stayed that way from then on.The story seemed to consist of the same scenes played over and over again, lots of sobbing, angst and trying to be brave, and towards the end I was checking my watch and wishing it was over.
Affleck seems to be playing the same character he does in all of his movies, but he, if any can get away with it.
He is now of the star power that can simply walk on to a movie set and get into character with little problem.Paltrow even shows a knack for great humor with the "I'm 10 days off the gum" schtick and it leaves you hoping for more, unfortunately this movie sems to lose it's audience at the editors table.The movie is well connected to it's various facts that happen throughout the movie, but it jumps or "bounces" through it's story line.
If it was, he bounced the movie into an oblivious emotional mess which leaves the movie afficiando hoping for another run of Paltrow's humor and great looks.Sadly it doesn't come and in the end the real hero of the movie is Affleck's assistant who seems to be the only person who really has a clue to whatever anyone is feeling.
Somehow, we are expected to swallow that the normally charming, go-getter Affleck is attracted to the dowdy, self-doubting Paltrow.A disappointing film, that could have been so much better with a different male lead actor.
Bounce is a good film with very nice performances by Gwyneth Paltrow and Ben Affleck and a semi-creative script by Don Roos.
Out of sheer guilt Ben Affleck tries to do good and secretly finds out who the widow is(Gwyneth Paltrow).
Gwyneth Paltrow doesnt know that Ben Affleck was indirectly the cause of her husband's death.
It's a very touching, at times disturbing, at times consoling, drama with outstanding performances that prove to me that both Ben Affleck and Gwyneth Paltrow have not been required to give their best in some other movies..
No character development --- Both Paltrow and Affleck stayed theexact same people that they were at the beginning of the movie.Characters don't have to change or become opposite of what theyused to be at the beginning, but some sort of progress in maturity,in life lessons, in anything would be nice.
After a year of guilt-induced alcoholism, Buddy faces Greg's wife, Abby (Gwenynth Paltrow) and falls in love.`Bounce' bares comparison with another 1999 film about a romance between two people linked by the death of a spouse, `Return to Me.' However, where `Return to Me' was sweet and frothy, `Bounce' is fairly cold and heavy, at least as released by Miramax.
Much of the time the movie just lays there, despite exceptionally fine performances by Gwenyth Paltrow and Johnny Galecki (Buddy's gay assistant).
Tell her Ben Affleck dies early in the movie or something, just keep away!.
Gwyneth Paltrow plays the widow of the man who took Affleck's seat on the plane.
(I don't think it's possible to give away this ending -- it's telegraphed from the beginning of the film.)  Just don't go expecting anything other than a light romantic comedy starring two really great looking people, one of whom can act much more skillfully than the other..
Paltrow and Affleck are so GOOD, and so appealing as humans, that the movie has a lot to offer.
The chemistry and quality of the two stars of this film, Ben Affleck and Gwyneth Paltrow, are electric.
The story is predictable, but you find yourself caring anyway.Good Christmas movie that asks questions about guilt and fate..
I don't really watch romantic movies very often,but this was very good!
Ben, Gwyneth, Natasha & Tony put on a perfect performance Its a story of fate Buddy(AFFLECK) meets Greg(GOLDWYN) at an airport they swap boarding passes and flight 82, the flight Buddy is supposed to be on crashes.
Good because in a film like this its success or failure rests entirely on the leading man's performance and no matter how interesting or involving or how well written the romantic aspects of the story are if there's not enough grief or self conflict shown by the male star then the film won't work and BOUNCE fails for this one reason.
Both stars (Paltrow and Affleck) have done much better movies in their careers than Bounce.
Another important reason that has led me to enjoy Bounce was the great performances by its two leading actors, Ben Affleck and Gwyneth Paltrow.
While I have always regarded Paltrow as a great talent, this is certainly one of Affleck's better performances (probably his best) I have seen.
It's the typical drama-romantic movie (I can't deny that) but the lead characters are great.
Boring boring Ben. Paltrow was fairly good and as many other reviewers said she was the only thing that saved this film because Affleck was a bore and is such a fake actor.