Heaven Can Wait (1978)

Mike says this was my first experience with this movie, and I was surprised upon watching it that I really HAD never seen it, heard of it, seen clips of it, Nothing! The movie was a complete surprise, from beginning to end. Which is rare for a geek with a computer in today's world.

Other than being a bit dated, this is a very cute movie. I think what surprised me the most about it was the humor: subtle, quick and clever.

I also really enjoyed Mr. Jordan. As a God stand-in, he is completely believable. The utter disbelief of the guide is also quite funny.

The film is full of cliches and classic sports/back-from-the-dead motifs, But here it's forgivable, because I think it may have been the source instead of another copy. However, I can still picture The Rock starring in a remake of this film a little TOO easily.

I will admit a little bit of confusion at the end. While I agree that letting Joe keep his memories would have been bad, I can't seem to come up with an alternative that would help the ending make sense to me. If Joe can't remember the struggle he went through, then what was the point? By erasing Joe's memories and personality (evidenced by his no longer playing the sax), doesn't this equate to killing the man that existed before? And if Joe no longer exists, why turn Joe into Jarrett, when they could have just taken Joe, kept Jarrett alive, and had the same outcome?

And, if Joe doesn't remember his role as the Millionaire, then what was the point of going through it?

I'm afraid that while a very cute a fun movie, it left me scratching my head as to what the exact moral was. I guess the loss of the sax could represent maturity... but I think it's a bit of a stretch.

I think I ended the movie feeling like Joe's coach friend... our Joe is gone. How could he have defeated death twice to only now be erased?

I did like the small detail, though, that we didn't see the "real" face of any of Joe's bodies until he was in them!


Kate says I LOVE this movie. When I was young, I loved the humor. Now that I'm older, I love the sweet melancholy plus the humor.

The movie has everything--as the grandfather says in Princess Bride, "Fencing, fighting, torture, revenge, giants, monsters, chases, escapes, true love, miracles . . ."

Well, okay, maybe no literal giants or monsters. Or fencing.

But it does have a murder mystery!

More than the plot, however, I love the characters from the fundamentally kind Joe Pendleton to the gently authoritative James Mason. This is one of those movies where I notice and remember the little things: Joe learning all the servants' names. Mrs. Farnsworth getting startled by Joe at dinner. The tuna speech at the board meeting. The conversations in the closet. The discussions over cocoa. The escort's flabbergasted reaction to Joe's desire to stay in Mr. Farnsworth's body. Mr. Jordan saying, "Joe" and holding out his hands.

Between James Mason and James Earl Jones as "God," I have to say . . . it's a tie.

And of course, Charles Grodin in his deadpan, laconic, ironic way is completely hilarious. I love the line (about nuclear power plants destroying California), "I think you would have to define 'destroy.'"

To return to the plot, I guess I must have loved cohesive plots even as a kid because one thing that has always struck me about this movie (more so as I grow older and become increasingly exposed to Hollywood's idea of "good") is how much the movie doesn't stray off course. Now-a-days, Joe would make it to the Superbowl AND save the company from evil entrepreneurs. But saving the company isn't the point. Joe does what he can, but he isn't really a businessman. He has a distinct personality, being something of a loner, a health nut, a romantic, and a guy with a simple, all-consuming dream. (I apologize for describing being a quarter-back for the Rams as simple. I just mean, Joe wants one thing in life--two after he meets Betty.)

The fascinating thing here is that his new body--Jarrett--is subtly different. The differences are lightly touched on, but it is implied that Jarrett was slightly more sophisticated and urban as well as a tad more social than Joe. But it is also implied that the two men's personalities are close enough that changes in Jarrett's character will be attributed to maturity (and his new girlfriend).

Lastly, I love the sweet melancholy that threads through the movie. Everything that James Mason says in that deep, gentle voice can be describe this way. However, one of my favorite sweet lines is Joe's to Max: "They don't have a football team in heaven, Max, so God couldn't make me first string." And the line "It's alright. There's nothing to be afraid of," for all its cliched simplicity, is used mostly effectively.

I never get tired of this movie despite the dated feel. A true classic in my mind!