A Life Less Ordinary

Plot synopsis:
In Heaven (which resembles a modern police headquarters), angels are tasked with ensuring that mortals on Earth find love. The "Captain", Gabriel (Dan Hedaya), is upset at reviewing the file of angel partners O'Reilly (Hunter) and Jackson (Lindo), all of whose recent cases have ended in divorce or misery. Gabriel is being pressed for results, so he introduces a radical new incentive: if their latest case isn't "cracked" – meaning, if the pair in question do not fall, and stay, in love, O'Reilly and Jackson must stay on Earth forever, which does not appeal to them. They open their case file to learn their tasks.
Celine Naville (Diaz) is the spoiled twenty-something daughter of a wealthy businessman. When one of her suitors, a loathsome dentist named Elliott (Stanley Tucci), proposes marriage to her, she offers to say yes, but only if he agrees to play "William Tell" with an apple on his head. As she takes aim with a pistol, Elliot's nerves fail; his move results in a minor head wound.
Robert Lewis (McGregor) is a janitor employed in the basement of Celine's father's company. His dreams for writing a best-selling trash novel are shot down by his co-workers. His manager tells him he is to be replaced by a robot. As he drowns his sorrows at a local bar, his girlfriend, Lily (K.K. Dodds) tells him she is leaving him for an aerobics instructor.
O'Reilly and Jackson pose as collection agents to repossess Robert's things and evict him from his apartment. Robert storms to the high-rise office of the company boss, Mr Naville (Ian Holm), while Naville is berating his daughter Celine for the William Tell fiasco. Security guards run in and start to attack Robert but he holds them off. When Celine introduces herself, Robert decides to kidnap her.
He drives her to a remote cabin in the California woods. Celine easily slips free but decides to stick around. She stays for the adventure and revenge against her father, suggesting that they extort a huge ransom.
O'Reilly and Jackson pose as bounty hunters, and contract with Naville to retrieve Celine and kill Robert.
Robert's first attempt to collect the ransom fails but Celine encourages him. They go out to a rustic bar, where they sing along to the karaoke machine. When Robert wakes up the next morning, he is stunned to see that he and Celine have slept together.
Robert makes a second demand for the ransom, with a letter written in Celine's blood. Naville gives O'Reilly and Jackson the money, and they go to meet Robert in the forest. To their disappointment, Robert appears willing to let Celine go in exchange for the money before O'Reilly stops his getaway. Aside, Jackson confesses his fears that the two are not in love yet. O'Reilly responds, "Jeopardy, Jackson. Always works."
While O'Reilly and Celine wait by their car, Jackson takes Robert into the woods to execute him. Before he can, Celine decks O'Reilly, runs into the woods, and knocks Jackson out with a shovel. As Robert and Celine drive away, O'Reilly grabs the towbar and rides along. As she points her gun, Robert and Celine jump from the car, and it careens off a cliff, with the money still inside.
Since they are short of money, Celine decides to rob a bank with Jackson's pistol. The robbery goes smoothly, until a security guard shoots at Celine. Robert pushes her out of the way, taking a bullet in the thigh. Celine hurriedly drives him back to the city, to be operated on by Elliot (the closest thing she can find to a discreet medical specialist). A little later, when Robert regains consciousness, he is appalled to see Celine playing a sleazy sexual role-playing game with Elliott. A fight breaks out, and Robert knocks Elliott unconscious. As they drive away, Celine explains that she only agreed to Elliott's request so that he would help Robert – and, in any case, it's none of Robert's business, since he and Celine aren't "involved," whatever he might think. Hurt, Robert gets out of the car and walks away.
To get them back together, Jackson writes a love poem in Robert's handwriting and sends it to Celine. Overcome, she runs back to the bar, where Robert has started working as a janitor, and says he has won her heart with the poem. O'Reilly and Jackson, listening, dance for joy... until Robert says that he's never written a poem in his life. Humiliated, Celine runs out again. But after she's gone, Robert's boss, Al (Tony Shalhoub), knocks some sense into him: Robert has nothing in his life except the improbable love of "an intelligent, passionate, beautiful, rich woman... so why are you even thinking about it?" Robert runs after Celine, but is too late: O'Reilly and Jackson, believing they have failed, decide to make their Earth-bound lives bearable by kidnapping Celine for ransom.
Robert tracks Celine to their hideout. He knocks O'Reilly down and, struggling with Jackson, tells Celine he loves her. The door is kicked down by Naville's butler, Mayhew (Ian McNeice), who shoots the two angels in the head (apparently killing them). Leaving Celine locked in the trunk, Naville and Mayhew drive Robert and the two angels' bodies to the cabin, planning to fake a murder-suicide.
In Heaven, Gabriel's secretary begs him to intervene, but he refuses. He phones God and asks him to do so. A neighbour releases Celine from the truck. Taking his gun, she runs to the cabin and confronts her father, while Mayhew holds Robert at gunpoint. Robert has had recurring dreams of being saved by being shot through the heart by an "arrow of love." Celine shoots Robert and the bullet passes through, to hit Mayhew in the shoulder. After a whispered conference in Al's bar, Robert and Celine walk outside to their wedding.
In an epilogue, Gabriel frees O'Reilly and Jackson from a pair of body bags. After Gabriel congratulates them on a successful case, the two angels embrace as they prepare to return home. In a second epilogue (filmed with claymation), Robert and Celine retrieve the suitcase full of money and settle in their new castle in Scotland.

Tags: comedy, murder, violence, cult, psychedelic, romantic

Review:
If You Get It, Its Amazing, If Not, Its Not. I remember seeing A Life Less Ordinary back in the late 1990s with high expectations as Trainspotting was one, and still is, one of my all time favorite films.
Although I enjoy ALLO its not perfect, some parts don't work very well and come across as corny, but the good, my man Ewan is just great as the lovable loser, far outweighs the bad and thats why it has a place in my film collection.no quote(This review was originally written by a man but then a robot replaced him.).
A Life less Ordinary is a wild and sweat natured romantic fantasy, concerning our hero Robert (Ewan McGregor) and spoiled rich girl Celine (Cameron Diaz) and the two angels (Hunter & Lindo) who are given the task of getting them to fall in love.
It seemed to me to be unique, charming, fun and just a great way to spend some enjoyable time.When a movie gets this enjoyable, I need to ask why.
It does seem a very strange mess of a movie if you browse thru it or happen to miss a scene while going to the bathroom, but I made myself pause it when I needed to and now I seem to get it!!!Part road trip, part romantic comedy, part wacky comedy, part fantasy, it's all about how the angel Gabriel (Dan Hedaya) is getting pressure from the Big Man Himself to arrange love matches that will actually last.
His reason completely gone, Robert kidnaps the spoiled princess daughter of his boss, Celine (Cameron Diaz) and hits the road with her, hoping to get his job, some money, or just an apology!!!
There is some violence (one very funny scene involves Delroy Lindo forcing Robert to dig his own grave), but it's so funny and comedic that it's not going to fit in with the regular violence in movies, like in Die Hard or something.It's a very delightful film for anyone who likes Ewan or Cameron.
Usually I dislike this genre, but i can't help loving this movie.The cast is great, and the chemistry between Cameron Diaz and Ewan McGregor is sparkling.
Actually I think the truth is quite the opposite - most likely you will be utterly confused by the movie and be very hard pressed to decide whether you liked it or not.There is a rich girl and a dude with quite a bad luck run going on.
Ewan McGregor and Cameron Diaz are probably the best film couple in history of cinema (or at least it seems like it to me right now).
In the style of wacky runaway heiress or road buddies on the lam films a la Frank Capra, A Life Less Ordinary is a dark comedy that stretches the definition of funny.
Ewan McGregor, an actor who is lively and dynamic in his two previous Boyle pictures never seems to find his character as Robert, a closet pulp fiction writer/janitor living in Salt Lake City, Utah.
The target of his anger, the bratty daughter of the company owner.Camerion Diaz as Celine is lovely in the role of a spoiled brat kidnapped by Robert, but the chemistry between the two actors never heats up the screen.
Instead, it transfers to the overwhelmed kidnapper rather than the shrewish Celine.Adding to the muddled storyline are two bumbling angels (Holly Hunter and Delroy Lindo) whose divine task is to assure the mismatched pair fall in love.
If the plot sounded confused it is because Boyle never seemed to make up his mind what the kind of film he wanted to direct.The stellar cast attempts to save their roles but are handicapped by a screenplay that never quite follows a recognizable genre.
Cameron Diaz does a very good job as well as Ewan McGregor and all the other cast.
In what feels like it wanted to be deliberately quirky, the plot involves angels controlling fate to bring two young people together in love.
The support cast is better simply because their lack of character and development isn't a problem; Lindo is good even if Hunter doesn't really fit in; although Holm and Hedaya have OK little cameos.Overall this has energy but it doesn't really hang together in a way that works.
I know Holly Hunter can act, but her character was suppose to help these too people fall in love and she *really* wanted to kill Ewan McGregor in one particular scene.
With a fine cast, a fantastic screenplay, a great soundtrack and lots of comedy and some romance, 'A Life Less Ordinary' becomes a not-so-ordinary film.
You want to see something entertaining but different, 'A Life Less Ordinary' could be the movie you're looking for.
Meanwhile, the fallen angels O'Reilly (Holly Hunter) and Jackson (Delroy Lindo) are assigned by their chief Gabriel (Dan Hedaya) to help Robert and Celine to fall in love with each other, otherwise they will never return home.
"A Life Less Ordinary" is a highly entertaining romantic comedy with a crazy and funny story.
Cameron Diaz is awesome in the role of the spoiled Celine, and show a wonderful chemistry with Ewan McGregor.
Bad. If the name of Danny Boyle is often synonym of success, the Englishman is also capable of directing more than mediocre movies such as this A Life Less Ordinary.It relies on a qualitatively low script.
The fantastic touch, more boring than anything, doesn't help either.The Diaz-McGregor works difficultly and struggles to extricate itself from this mess where characters and situations are stereotyped.Even the direction is uninspired, not to mention the soundtrack that is almost ridiculous, which is a shame when speaking of Boyle.It is maybe the worst feature of the director, along with Millions, both movies sharing as a matter of fact the same mystical tone..
A Life Less Ordinary takes its place alongside last year's "Fierce Creatures" as one of those productions that makes you wonder how so much money could be spent without any of the professionals in the film industry saying "Stop, this is madness!"This is a movie which is not only terribly misconceived but appears to have been semi- aborted, then reconstructed Frankenstein-style to be presented to you, the audience, with the goo still dripping out of its seams.One can only guess that those professionals just figured there would be a guaranteed audience, loyal to the team which made "Trainspotting" last year.
You can almost hear the director telling them, "You're supposed to be having an argument, so just yell each line louder than the last." That's not at all to put the blame on the direction, which, like the acting, must have been an impossible job.Holly Hunter, Dan Hedaya and a couple of others are humiliated in a set-up plot out of 'Here Comes Mr Jordan,' or 'It's a Wonderful Life.' You know, the angels with a job to do thing.
McGregor says his line, the camera cuts to Diaz, and she hesitates in apparently real confusion, then flashes what looks like a smile of relief as she suddenly thinks of a way to deliver her line: uh, angrily.At the end, there's a sort of epilogue in which the completely unconvincing protagonists try to convince you that you've learned a big lesson about love from them, while behind them, key scenes are replayed in a style that seems calculated to give you a feeling of nostalgia about events that changed you forever, just like when you hear Stairway to Heaven.
Two angels (played by Holly Hunter and Delroy Lindo, an odd combo that works and are the highlights of the movie) must make two people (Cameron Diaz and McGregor) fall in love or else they can never go back to heaven again.
A cheesy romance movie at best but it had to be one of the worst endings ever put together.If you like Ewan McGregor, watch it or rent "Trainspotting" again.
While not exactly successful on all levels, A Life Less Ordinary is an interesting film, funny at parts, symbolic (sort of like being trapped in a Romantic 19th Century Novel), base and realistic in parts, and surreal and dream like in others.
It's got cheese, but it's the stuff of good film-making too: hilarious script, actors with great comedic timing, and bizarre occurrences that make sense in a weird, weird way, I loved it.An action-packed romantic-comedy mixed with other-worldly events, this was my kinda movie.If you liked the 90s, you'll like this.
From the team who brought Shallow Grave and Trainspotting to America comes A Life Less Ordinary, a truly listless flick about love, hate, angels and the very mechanics of Heaven.
The film begins with the angel Gabriel (Dan Hedaya) routing two ridiculous angels (Delroy Lindo and Holly Hunter) to Earth to help mastermind a romance between a janitor turned would-be-kidnapper (Ewan McGregor) and his apathetic, millionaire's-daughter victim Celine (Cameron Diaz).
I thought it was going to be an out and out road comedy but what with excruciatingly annoying Angels(!) Delroy Lindo and Holly Hunter, a cough and a spit of a part from the usually consistent Ian Holm and the abysmally trippy ending, I felt thoroughly let down.
A plus point was the performances of the leads, the lovely Cameron Diaz and fellow Celt Ewan McGregor..
Now it is just a reasonably funny rom com with some less than ordinary plot twists and turns.Two angels get sent to earth with one mission: make people fall in love with each other.
1997's "A Life Less Ordinary" is a well done film that's blended well with some different supporting points even if they seem strange and crazy still the story is well done with the main theme proving that love is possible when unexpected.
The sexy Cameron Diaz stars as Celine a spoiled and snotty rich brat daughter of a businessman and one day when at the office a hopeless janitor Robert Lewis(Ewan McGregor)who's only hope is to someday write a fairy tale novel is fired.
To beat it all it's guided along by two celestial angels from up top who are sent down to see things thru and the guidance is great from Jackson(Delroy Lindo)and O'Reilly(Holly Hunter as a tobacco chewing angel at the time this was a future glimpse into her later "Saving Grace" character with the angel and tobacco chewing!) It's a good journey along the way of mishaps, robberies, chases, and fights and even a hostage situation yet in the end all of this leads to an unexpected love as fate was on their side during this journey!
I liked it a lot, and the acting from Ewan is very good although cameron's wasn't exactly top notch-but getting there.
Ewan McGregor, the incredible actor that unleashed his talents in 'Trainspotting,' joins the same writing and directing team in 1997's 'A Life Less Ordinary,' co-starring Cameron Diaz.The movie starts off with Robert (Ewan McGregor) being fired from his job, dumped by his girlfriend and evicted from his house.
The best parts of this movie are the three-dimensional characters, such as Walt the gas station attendant, the crazy dentist (Stanley Tucci) and the depressed, blunt boss of Ed's diner (Tony Shalhoub).The story, although a bit unusual for the ordinary viewer, sparks enjoyment through humorous, well-rounded lines and vivid visual displays through Danny Boyle's masterminded direction.
Ewan McGregor and Cameron Diaz have great chemistry together, and the movie is truly a gem..
The only thing I didn't like about the movie was the "mission from God" with Holly Hinter and Delroy Lindo as angels.
Call me crazy, but I absolutely loved this movie.I'm a huge fan of both Diaz and McGregor, and I thought although not the most complex roles they could find, they played Robert and Celine to their maximum potential.
First of all, the two very talented young actors Ewan McGregor and Cameron Diaz gives a wonderful performance.
I'm not sure that "A Life Less Ordinary" cuts in in this company, but it's a damn good little movie and I enjoyed it a lot.Just one thing...
If u like Cameron Diaz and u think Ewan McGregor is Okay, then rent it, the story is great but also weird.
The chemistry between Diaz and McGregor is surprisingly effective and both give great performances, as do the rest of the outstanding supporting cast which include: Ian Holm, Holly Hunter, Delroy Lindo, Stanley Tucci, Dan Hedaya and Tony Shalhoub.
I originally saw A LIFE LESS ORDINARY simply because he was in it, but after I saw it the first time I felt that Ewan was just a small part in the film.
Ewan McGregor is great as the un-experienced kidnapper and Cameron Diaz did a perfect job as portraying the snobby rich girl.
Another thing I liked about the movie was how the director mixed in the films soundtrack.
This movie has to be listed amongst the 'only see it if everyone else wants to' category, very much along the same lines as 'The Usual Suspects' - not exactly a Hollywood blockbuster but a highly enjoyable yarn which, in this case, revolves around the lives of two very different people.Celine (Diaz) is a rich debutante with a somewhat alarming penchant for firearms - very headstrong and, due to her fatcat mafia-esque father Naville (Holm), a woman who always gets what she wants.
I'm sure there are also people who want Cameron Diaz and Ewan McGregor to get naked and remain that way.
This was one of those movies that can be watched over and over and is just as funny the second time as it was the first time.I have noticed some people being hung up on the fact that the lead character has a Scottish (not British like some think) accent and lives in the US.
Highlight of the movie includes how Robert tries to trash the robots that replaces him; how Celine participates in her own kidnapping.And how could I forget about the robbery Celine pulls in the movie.Yes, sometimes things seem quite strange; I would agree that the ending is kinda weird, and you do wonder why Celine and Robert aren't busted for robbing a bank, but at the same time, several ideas would come across you even after you see the movie (watch in my case since I watched it as home video); for instance, the concept of fate and love or the concept of society turning into a robot-liked society, or even the unrealistic events that take place in the movie: sure they all seem so odd, yet they all take place in the movie and appear to be normal - and it just made me wonder that maybe the director is trying to say that all things unbelievable would actually happen as part of life.Maybe in some critics' opinions, this movie appears strange but as a movie-lover, I feel that this movie does have me think beyond the movie after viewing it, while it also provides laughter for me when I was watching it; so I give it a 8/10, or 3.5 stars out of 5..
The performances were great especially those of Lindo and Hunter as Jackson and O'Reilly the two angels sent to join Robert and Celine together in eternal love.
Again Ewan McGregor masters his lines and makes them truly his own with Cameron Diaz playing the role of Celine perfectly.
Ewan McGregor & Cameron Diaz are just great in this movie...watch out for the title song performed by Ash!.
Their chore: to not-so-surreptitiously coerce a janitor [Ewan McGregor], who's just lost his job, and a rich semi~bitch [Cameron Diaz], whose father fired McGregor and who has just shot her hubby-to-be [the always terrific Stanley Tucci] to fall in love in order to remain in Heaven.It's dark, witty, has some terrific cinematography and some remarkable ideas re: romance, love and destiny.And for the record, I thought McGregor was a perfect counterpoint to Diaz's "experienced abductee instructor" character.Let's not forget the superior perfs by Ian Holm as Diaz's father and Dan Hedaya in a limited role as "Gabriel" ~ who sends Hunter and Lindo on their mission.I loved it...4 Niro~Stars [of 4]PS to the self-described critic who asked "why was it never explained how a guy living in NYC had a British [more likely Scottish, but that would be quibbling] accent?"...I say...
The chemistry between the leads is good and there are a lot of funny moments as Ewan Macgregor's character struggles with his inability to be a bad guy and Cameron Diaz tries to manipulate the situation to meet her own ends.
The film is the third collaboration between Boyle and actor Ewan McGregor.
I'm not sure exactly why I love it so much, but let's start with the cast: Ewan is absolutely adorable, Cameron plays her character well, and the angels are great.
I can't really think of any other movies to compare it to, but if you like a story about love, coupled with a bit of whimsy, I think you will enjoy it.
One of Ewan McGregor's best movies.
I love it!Cameron Diaz and Helen Hunt are also good in this movie.
I thought it was hilarious yet kinda sweet in an odd way.Since i am a big fan of Ewan McGregor, this movie isn't my favorite because of one thing, his hair and that weird colorful shirt in part of the movie, but besides, great film!.
A Life Less Ordinary is a nice little movie that is quickly becomming a cult film along with the other MacGregor/Boyle collaborations.
The plot is very far fetched of course, but the terrific all star cast and a great performance by Ewan MacGregor make this a very enjoyable movie.
Cameron Diaz and Ewan McGregor play their parts perfectly, and Holly Hunter's character is always there as the one person you can't decide if you hate or love.
Ewan McGregor plays a kidnapper and Cameron Diaz as his victim who's just your typical spoiled rich girl.