New Line Cinema and Gold Circle Films present a PG-13 rated romantic comedy directed by Jeff Lowell and starring Eva Longoria Parker (Kate), Paul Rudd (Henry), Lake Bell (Ashley), Jason Biggs (Dan), Lindsay Sloane (Chloe), Stephen Root (Sculptor) with William Morgan Sheppard (Father Marks), Wendi McLendon-Covey (Lona), Ali Hillis (Karen) and Kali Rocha (Angel).
It's the wedding day of Kate and Henry and Kate races around the gardens that overlook a scenic ocean view, preparing her ultimate moment in life that every neurotic bride dreams of. But who would have thought that an angel as cold as ice without wings would end up taking Kate's life, ending her dream. When she awakens in what seems to be purgatory, a white clouded room, she encounters another wingless angel. Leaving Kate to question where she is, heaven or hell? Kate never really gets her instructions on how to enter the pearly white gates but along her way as a ghost back on earth, she meets and old pal that eventually sheds a little light on the subject.
Thrust back to the world of the living in which she left, Kate believes her destiny is to make sure Henry does not move on, especially with a certain psychic, Ashley. With the help of Chloe, Henry's sister, and Kate's diary they scam Henry, a veterinarian of his own Mills Animal Clinic, into believing that Ashley is in touch with Kate requesting that he move on with his life and stop living in the past. There were definitely some funny moments revolving around the clinic and the patients, some a bit over-done and some not done enough. Albeit the directors could have taken some advice from the writers and vice versa on what was suitable to an animals character. Better yet, they could have consulted me when it comes to animal topics and scenarios that could have played out with a little bit more conversation and a little less action.
Along the journey of boy meets girl, Ashley falls in love with Henry and Henry falls for Ashley and the ghost of Kate does everything in her powers to break the two up. This adds much levity to the story along with her continued demonic plots to end the possible relationship forming between Henry and Ashley. Yet another wrench gets thrown into the mix when Ashley's assistant, Dan, of her catering business, which happens to be her true bread and butter, reveals a hidden secret to her right out of the closet, so to speak. Apparently there was a lot more cooking in the five years, one kiss, and several bubble baths together than one of the two assumed!
Overall, one good deed leads to another towards the path to heaven as proven by this story line, which reflects many others like "Heaven Can Wait", "Ghost" and thanks to Biggs character, bits of "American Pie". But in the end, thanks to a feathered friend, the smell of gardenias are once again in the air and life goes on, death too!
The film was a cute chick flick that will leave you laughing enough times to at least enjoy the somewhat over-done story and over-the-top scenes. Longoria Parker, not a far stretch from her "Desperate Housewives" role did a likeable job to keep the film entertaining. Rudd, although being a fan of his, was a bit boring, dry and uncharismatic. Sloane, a likeable character balanced on the edge of not enough verses too much on camera moments. Thank God for Bell and Biggs, even though they were the ones that at times seemed just a bit over-acted, they at least gave life to an otherwise dead story laced with an appropriate but somewhat unforgettable score.
Seeing this film will not get you into heaven but it may at least keep you entertained for a fraction of your time in the theatre. Personally, I loved the fact that Henry was a veterinarian. Thankfully, the AHA had a close watch on the use of the itchy butt, over-weight, under vaccinated pets that were featured throughout the story. Hats off to the animal actors, since they were the ones that truly brought laughter to many of the scenes in this "Just Like Heaven" want to be. Even though moments were just a bit lifeless it was still an enjoyable film worthy of date night.
Reporting for Talkin' Pets, I'm Jon Patch.