Return to Paradise Reviews

• Moral Passion Play Turns Into Tepid Romantic Melodrama--Too Bad

  
  By A27H9DOUGY9FOS on 2006-10-14
  In the American adaptation of "Force majeure," we get a great setup. "Return to Paradise" poses the moral dilemma of whether someone would be willing to give up several years of freedom to save another's life. It's a fantastic, sticky ethical quandary and one that I think is presented quite well in this film. Vince Vaughn and David Conrad play two guys who are asked this question--as a buddy they left in Malaysia is about to be put to death (on a drug charge for which they all bore responsibility).
  
  As we see these two wrestle with the implications, the doubts and the ambiguities--this film is at its strongest. How far will you go to be a "good" person, and is it worth it? Very weighty issues.
  
  The first half of this film is solid, solid material. The lawyer who approaches them, played by Anne Heche, also gets involved with Vaughn personally. I could have done without this romance--but as characters struggling and conflicted and despairing, I suppose there was some basis for them to be drawn together. Another outside force, however, is a newspaper reporter played by hard-as-nails Jada Pinkett Smith. For those of you who have seen the patented Pinkett Smith hard-as-nails performance--it's really not much to see. And her character is pretty pointless, as well--a plot convenience to be revealed at a later time. But even though it was far from perfect, this half was thoroughly compelling.
  
  Sadly, the film ventures to Malaysia for the remainder of the movie. What becomes painfully obvious now is that our romance has moved to the forefront of the picture. Joaquin Pheonix, as the prisoner, has yet to be fleshed out as a character. We don't see any real relationship between he and Vaughn or he and Heche. This is a fatal flaw! As we move into melodrama, I was surprisingly unmoved. Intellectually, I knew I should care but the film never bothered to emotionally invest me. So while I was left cold having hoped for so much more--then the big surprise courtroom revelation (see plot convenience mentioned in above paragraph).
  
  Ultimately, the romance was again played up for the finale. With Phoenix being a character construct or plot device--instead of someone we knew and cared about--the film kills itself. Far from being an awful movie--what could have been powerful and emotionally devastating is really just mundane. KGHarris, 10/06.
  
  

• AN INVENTIVE AND PROFOUND MODERN DAY MORALITY TALE...

  
  By A1L43KWWR05PCS on 2003-01-04
  This is a wonderfully creative movie, with top-notch directing and award caliber performances by a talented cast. The premise is a fairly simple one. Three young men, Sheriff (Vincent Vaughn), Tony (David Conrad), and Louis (Joaquin Phoenix), who previously didn't know one another, team up in Malaysia and party hearty. They have fun drinking, smoking hashish, and picking up girls. Sheriff and Tony head back to the states, leaving Louis behind, as he has a wildlife conservation idea involving orangutans that he wishes to pursue while in Malaysia. Before they go, Sheriff makes it a point to leave his dope stash in the house in which Louis is remaining. Later, the police come to search the premises on a matter unrelated to the dope stash. When they find it, however, they arrest Louis, who literally has been left holding the bag.

  Two years later, Anne Heche enters the picture as a lawyer, ostensibly working on behalf of her client, Louis. She seeks out Sheriff and Tony with a proposition. It seems that while Sheriff and Tony have been getting on with their lives, Louis has been rotting in a Malaysian prison for the past two years and living in sheer terror. You see, Louis is scheduled to be executed in eight days as a drug dealer, as the amount of dope that had been left behind and discovered by the police was just over a threshold amount that would classify it as being for distribution, rather than for personal use. The only hope Louis has of staying alive is if Sheriff and Tony go back to Malaysia to take responsibility for their part in this and serve three years each. If only one returns, then the sole returnee faces six years. Will it be all for one and one for all? Will Louis live to personally thank his friends? Watch the movie and find out.

  Vince Vaughn as Sheriff gives a compelling performance. Playing the quintessential Everyman, he struggles with his moral obligation. It is strictly a moral one, as legally he can just sit by and do nothing. Tony, too, undergoes some soul searching. They finally both come to the same conclusion, or do they? The dilemma that they face is an excruciatingly personal one. The movie builds up to a level of suspense that is totally unexpected. There are enough twists and turns to keep you guessing. Meanwhile, Joaquin Phoenix, one of the finest young actors of his generation, gives a performance that will haunt the viewer for days. Anne Heche also give a noteworthy performance, intense and relentless in her quest to save what life Louis has left. Jada Pinkett also gives a strong performance as a news reporter who is interested in the story. Her interjection into the movie brings into the forefront the issue of the responsibility of the press. When you see this movie, you will understand what this means.

  This film is excellent on all fronts. The only weakness was an unnecessary subplot, which involved a blossoming romance between Sheriff and the character played by Anne Heche. Were it not for this digression, I would have given the movie five stars. It is an otherwise profoundly moving film that deserves to be seen.
  
  

• Wonderful film. Good moral questions. And absolutely great story!

  
  By A17FLA8HQOFVIG on 2006-11-22
  This 1998 drama took me by surprise. I got completely involved in it. My heart beat and I felt pangs of anxiety. And I couldn't stop watching.
  
  The film opens in Malaysia where three young American men are just plain having a good time. There are wonderful beaches, lots of girls and plenty of hashish. Then their vacation is over. Two of them return home. The third, Lewis, played by Joaquin Phoenix, decides to stay on and join a group that saves gorillas.
  
  Fast forward now two years. As none of these Americans knew each other too well, they have lost touch. Enter Anne Heche. She contacts both John, played by Vince Vaughn and David, played by Tony Croft. She tells them she is Lewis' attorney. The story is that right after the three men separated, Lewis was arrested for hashish possession. It was such a large quantity that he is considered a drug trafficker; the sentence is death. He's been in a Malaysian jail all this time and the case has been under appeal. But the appeals have run out, and Lewis is sentenced to die in just eight days.
  
  However, if both John and David would return to Malaysia and each serve a 3-year sentence, Lewis' life would be saved. If only one of the men return, the sentence would be six years. But either way, Lewis would be allowed to live. This is quite a dilemma. And from that point on I knew that no matter how it turned out, it would not be a pleasant ending. I couldn't help my real deep emotions that surfaced during this film. What would I do if put into that situation? A Malaysia prison is a horrible place. And in case we don't get it, there are several scenes shot there.
  
  This is a fine film. It brings up questions of moral complexity. There are no easy answers.
  
  Yes, the acting is good, the cinematography just right. But the thing that fascinated me the most was the story. And isn't that what a good film is really about?
  
  
  
  
  

• OSCAR???

  
  By A1BNBJ9K3Y55G1 on 2006-10-20
  This film was amazing! Naturally the one's you never hear about are the one's that deserve the most attention. The beginning was a tad bit slow, especially when it came to Vaughn making up his mind to go or not. Ultimatly his performance made up for that. Even though Phoenix is rarely seen throughout the film, his roll is so touching and heart wrenching it puts a lump in my throat just thinking about it. I think there should have been Oscar nod's all around! It really begs the question, would you do the same for another? Share this wonderful film with friends and family it truly is one of the best films of all time.
  
  

• Return to Film School

  
  By on 1999-05-17
  Comments to be checked and sent for approval Possible spelling mistakes: Greenpeace Heche filmmakers moviemaking Please use the browser 'BACK' button to return to the previous page in order to make corrections.

  Your comments will be displayed as follows: Please remember to hit the button below to actually send the comments!

  Christopher Smith (iilannoy@aol.com)

  Date: 16 May 1999 Summary: Return to Film School

  Watching "Return To Paradise" was like watching a pitch meeting gone terribly wrong. I could almost hear the writers unveiling the story before a disinterested studio exec...

  Writers: "Three guys are on vacation in Malaysia. Two of them go home, the third - some sort of Greenpeace kid sticking around to save the endangered whatever - gets stuck with everyone's hash. One thing leads to another, Greenpeace Guy goes to jail and he's going to be executed for trafficking if the other two don't come back and take responsibility for possession."

  Studio Exec (Yawn; Beat): "Does it have to be Malaysia?"

  From there, things get ridiculous. Greenpeace Guy's lawyer (Anne Heche) comes to New York and falls in love with her client's most unlikeable, loathsome, arrogant friend (Vince Vaughn). BUT WAIT....

  He's not really anyone's friend. He's just some self-serving creep. But that's okay because she's not really anyone's lawyer, she's Greenpeace Guy's SISTER (collective gasp). And she's just using Self-Serving Guy to save her brother, Greenpeace Guy. BUT WAIT...

  She's not really using anyone. They're really in love. And Self-Serving Guy isn't going back to Malaysia (Did it have to be Malaysia?) to save Greenpeace Guy. He's going back to show Greenpeace Guy's sister how self-serving he really isn't. BUT WAIT...

  There's another guy. Equal parts success and conscience. Everything Self-Serving Guy isn't. By the end, he becomes everything Self-Serving Guy was, but isn't anymore. We're not really sure how this happens, it just does. But it's not really important, because when it's all said and done, he's only there to make Vince Vaughn's character look good after the movie exhausted all of whatever energy it may have had making him look bad. Still with me? I didn't think so.

  "Return to Paradise" lacks depth, feeling, direction, conviction, characters, story, cinematography, performances and a decent score. If you want to watch unlikeable characters wandering aimlessly through the greatest crisis of their miserable little lives and then stop on a dime and contradict everything we've come to know about them for the sake of a plot twist, you should enjoy this movie.

  If you'd rather see believable characters that you can actually care about in a similar predicament without a lame love story and a couple of bogus sex scenes, go rent "Midnight Express", directed by Alan Parker, written by Oliver Stone. Unlike "Return to Paradise", "Midnight Express" is based on a true story and made by expert filmmakers. They understood their story, their characters, and the reasons for making that film. "Return to Paradise" serves as the 90's counterpart to its infinitely better predecessor, like "Independence Day" to "The Day The Earth Stood Still", "Close Encounters of the Third Kind", and every other film it ripped off and misunderstood. It's just another sad example of the truly God-awful state of moviemaking in this day and age.

  (Zero Stars)
  
  

• Paradise Found: A Lush, Intelligent Character-Driven Film
  By A3CVUDOZOMCZOL on 2004-10-20
  (NO SPOILERS...)
  
  Return to Paradise is a beautifully written, crafted and acted film, one of the few DVDs in my collection that I just keep coming back to.
  
  The prologue in Malaysia begins during the credits and is worth the watch in itself. The driving music, hand-held camera effects, and MTV-style editing evoke the carelessness of youth, of drugs, sex, booze ... a young man's idea of "Paradise". This grabs our interest, and establishes the dynamic between these three guys, who are off for a post-college fling before assuming their "real" lives.
  
  The bulk of the film is devoted to the consequences of their idyll. The characters are: Tony, an opaque, friendly, Everyman in his pursuit of an honorable, yet conventional life. Louis (Joachim Phoenix) a gentle soul - whose plan is to stay in Southeast Asia and pursue Animal Rights ... and "Sheriff", played by Vince Vaughn - a tough, straight talking hustler from Brooklyn.
  
  It is Sheriff's journey that we stay with as the action moves over to America, then back to 'Paradise'. And Vaughn brings a paradoxical depth and subtlety to this character. Ann Heche matches him by creating an intense volubly erotic counterpart. We feel for them as each delicately, falteringly, uses the other as a catalyst to reach for the nobility in their souls.
  
  Things do not turn out as we (or they) expect. Character relationships reshuffle a bit near the end, but rather than being devices to surprise or tweak our emotions, these twists and turns of the plot help ensure that Sheriff's decisions feel like his own.
  
  The best thing about Return to Paradise is that there are no bad guys. A life 'hangs in the balance', but the competing forces are (as in the real world) created by a myriad of individuals all acting out their own interests with no real malice, yet perhaps without the purposeful empathy represented by the Louis character.
  
  The interplay between Tony, Louis, Sheriff, Beth, the Malaysian officials and MJ Major (an aggressive reporter played by Jada Pinkett-Smith in an acerbic, pivotal, cameo) keep us riveted all the way through to the final, cathartic, conclusion.
  
  Lush settings and cinematography, complex emotional sub-plots. Don't miss it.
  
  
• what would you do?
  By A3SRUSAYDH686A on 2005-05-03
  When I was at university I was asked to write an essay on the ethical issues in this film. Wow, the whole idea really blows me away. What would you do it their position? It really is a tough one.
  It's one of those films where you can really put yourself in their shoes, not that anyone would want to. The story itself is touching and I think it's well made. I can't stop thinking about it.
  Oh.. and Vince Vaughn is so hot!
  ENJOY
  
  
• What happened to the Oscar nods?
  By AA64UG0NPUFKJ on 2005-11-12
  I just watched "Return to Paradise." Why had I not ever heard of this movie? It is excellent. Vince Vaughn, Anne Heche and Joaquin Phoenix give stunning performances together. Separately, Joaquin Phoenix's--an Uber-talent--impassioned performance surely deserved an Oscar nomination. Those of you who have become Vince Vaughn fans due to his comic turns in such films as Be Cool, Wedding Crashers (let's face it he made the movie), and Starsky & Hutch, should view this movie. He's a fine dramatic actor as well. In fact, Mr. Vaughn is extremely verstaile and believable in any genre. Did you see "Swingers"? Another good film treating us to Vince's complex movie characters. Anne Heche gets some good roles, and her acting was fine in this film. However, any good actor could have done the character justice. A fabulous actor good have given it teeth.
  
  This is not a cliched story: Americans vacation overseas, disrespect a country by doing drugs, and get themselves in big trouble because of their ignorance of the law. This movie is more. It makes you think "What are you (am I) made of?"
  -Do you have integrity?
  -Will blood or family bonds make you sacrifice that integrity?
  -Can you be selfless?
  -Can you endure extreme hardship and come out unscathed?
  
  All of these questions will run through your mind as you watch this film. And certainly, you will be answering these questions for days to come after seeing "Return to Paradise."
  
  
• Hello! Academy Awards People! Wake up!
  By A140OWMGL05D9F on 2000-01-27
  I actually saw this in the theatre when it was released. This is an amazing movie. Don't pay attention to the review "Go back to Film School". Some people are a little over analytical and should just watch the news for their entertainment. Remember, a movie is just that, a movie, a story. Return to Paradise is a thought provoking and highly emotional STORY, a combination of which is exactly what I seek from films. If I leave the theatre and all I can muster is "Wow", then I know I just got my money's worth. Not only could I not speak for a while, I was in a complete daze. My boyfriend and I talked about the movie for hours afterwards, once I was able to Return to Reality. You become completely involved with these characters. That is, if your not too busy analyzing every second of each scene waiting for imperfections to arise. I have to say the most phenomonal acting was done by Joaquin Phoenix. I just cannot believe the Academy and the Hollywood Foreign Press overlooked this film altogether. Politics I am sure. We wouldn't want anyone/Malaysia to get mad at us. Better to just ignore that film. Bottom line, I thought this movie was fabulous. Some may disagree, but that's totally fine. Most of you however, I think will be moved, shocked, depressed, confused and amazed after watching this movie. Then ask yourself what would you do? REALLY. If you answer too quickly then your not being truthful. It takes some thought.
  
  
• a good movie
  By on 2005-05-07
  i saw return to paradise a few months ago and i decided to review on it. the movie starts off with three guys, lewis, sheriff, and tony on vacation in malaysia. lewis decides to stay and save the aragatans while the other two leave. lewis ends up getting busted for having hashesh in his house. two years later his lawyer goes to new york and tells sheriff and tony that if they don't go back to malaysia and spend three years in jail, lewis will hang.
  this is an extroadinary movie with a good plot and great acting. although jada pinkett smith really botherd me in this movie. i just wished she would've gotten hit by a truck crossing the road. in the movie, of course.
  
  
• Return to Paradise
  By A36FCUYX7RXK72 on 2005-09-10
  This film is a sincere and touching film about two friends who have to decide whether they will spend three years in a Malaysian jail for drug possession or to let their third friend hang. They have eight days to decided. This film journeys through the lives of all three men. Joaquin Phoenix's performance is outstanding. A really good tear jerker.
  
  
• Very good movie, tough getting through the prison scenes!
  By A3RZR8VGIQS68Z on 2006-11-27
  I stumbled onto this movie today, and decided what the heck, it was nothing else on anyway. Very emotionally charged film, and great acting, especially by Joaquin Phoenix. I have seen him in other movies, but this was a very good performance by him. It was really tough to watch the prison and courtroom scenes, especially that last prison scene with Vince Vaughn. It was hard not to cry. I walked away from the TV twice because the scene was so intense. What I really liked about the movie is how it slowly reeled you in at just the right pace. There were never dull moments, and made you that more curious to see how it would end. It also left you thinking about your own morality and friendships. I plan to buy this movie and add it to my collection, again Great Movie!
  
  
  
  
• Film f/ grown-ups! Thought-provoking, beautifully made.
  By A2ZUWCS8LTCA38 on 2000-01-12
  A film for grown-ups (which is a rare thing). Beautifully made, beautifully acted, directed with subtlety and intelligence. Does the fact that you've forgotten someone and moved on with your life mean that you love them any less, or that your responsibility or accountability to them is any less, years later? Are the responsibilities of friendship contingent upon how long you've known that friend, or upon how long it's been since you've seen that friend? The acting and direction are so authentic that I felt like I was watching a documentary rather than a work of fiction. A film about loyalty, decency, friendship, and about "how you act when no one's looking." It's about an unremarkable "regular Joe" who is asked/forced to address the questions: What kind of a person am I, really? Am I a person who can be counted on by his friends? to what extent? Is there anything more important than myself and my life? To what extent is a totally undistinguished person capable of acts of transcendent nobility? What is the meaning of friendship? What rights does friendship confer upon someone to make really extraordinary requests or demands of his friends? Does the essential decency or goodness of one person have an affect on those around him? Do the responsibilities of love (i.e. loyalty) diminish after years of not seeing each other? Is love eternal and internal, or specific to a time and place? Is decency/goodness infectious/contagious? One of the best movies I've ever seen. It restores your faith in cinema as a forum for serious ideas and questions. This really is a film of rare quality.
  
  
• Heart-breaking and Underrated
  By on 1999-06-09
  I rented this movie expecting something predictable, but wanting to enjoy Vince Vaughn's good looks before his hairline recedes any further. I was pleasantly (though pleasant isn't the best word to describe the film) surprised. Three friends go on a trip to Manilla or Malaysia (forget which), the two who know each other better leave and another stays behind. 2 years later they find out their friend has been arrested for drug possession (the drugs which, unfortunately, would not have been found if Sheriff, Vaughn's character, hadn't carelessly put in a certain place)and is sentenced to death unless they can work out a deal where his friends can return and serve either 3 years each (or 6 years if one of them won't do it)in a hellhole prison. It's certainly one of those 'what would you do' type movies, and I just thanked God that I wasn't in the same situation. I have a family, so I'd lean towards being selfish and saying no, but then feeling like a jerk my whole life. I would think I knew what was coming in the plot, and then something I didn't expect would happen. The ultimate fate of Lewis, Phoenix's character, is the last thing I thought would occur--totally blew me out of the water. I won't give it away, but trust me, you won't beleive your eyes. Phoenix was robbed of a Best Supporting Actor nomination. Besides his last gut-wrenching scene in the film, there's one where SHerriff watches a video that Lewis and his lawyer have managed to prepare that Lewis made while in his cell. He is basically begging for his life, while trying not to make them feel guilty if they don't do it and also trying to hold it together--he looks so wretched and when he breaks down and sobs, I got choked up. Definitely worth a rental, if nothing else to put your life in perspective and realize things could be a LOT worse, and to remind you to NEVER do drugs in a foreign country, no matter how tempting it is. In fact, I don't think I'll be travelling there at all, thanks.
  
  
• Hauntingly Good....Where was Oscar?
  By A3E8BTA2SXPV3P on 2001-01-11
  How such a quality film could pass unnoticed by critics and audiences is beyond my comprehension. Before seeing this film by chance one night on a movie channel, I had only a vague and nebulous recollection of this film, something along the lines of, "I remember Anne Heche in the trailer...some dramatic music going on, I think, and set in Malaysia or Thailand." Admittedly, I did not expect to be affected by the film; rather, I expected an average drama that I would forget about even before I went to bed. However, this film has made me think twice about discounting films so quickly.

  I will not summarise the film, as many reviewers here have already done so, but I will add my two cents to recommend such an extraordinary piece of work that illustrates Hollywood's ability to still churn out quality films (albeit without the pomp and circumstance of a typical $100 million budget studio film).

  The first thing I noticed was the performance given by Anne Heche (Beth), Vince Vaughn (Sheriff), and Joaquin Phoenix (Lewis). Deep emotion was infused in the most simple lines exchanged between two characters, be it at a construction site or a dingy New York apartment. The film goes straight to the point. We are given but some short glimpses of a vivacious and happy Lewis before we are thrown into the moral dilemma - will Sheriff go back to save his friend's life? It seems unlikely that audiences would sympathise with Lewis, as we, the audience, and Sheriff barely know Lewis. The fact that we do sympathise deeply with Lewis clearly demonstrates Phoenix's exceptional acting skills. Also, Heche and Vaughn, although ultimately involved in a relationship (which I deemed to be necessary), make every scene and word believable. As the movie begins we all wonder why Beth, the desperate lawyer, is so dedicated to Lewis. I did not expect my wonder to be appeased, but it was. I won't spoil the surprise.

  Quite telling that I haven't forgotten about this film since I first saw it, as I have watched many films without being at all impressed or touched. There are several touching scenes throughout the film, but I will point out the most astounding:

  * Lewis's taped outpouring while in the Malaysian prison. Whilst begging Sheriff to return to Malaysia, Lewis is also stating his own guilt for asking, incredibly trying to be humble about asking for his life.

  * Lewis' digression in the prison, his stream of consciousness speech that is perhaps my most favourite scene in the entire movie. Joaquin Phoenix, although his own worst critic who always sees flaws in his performances, cannot possibly not see the beauty in his acting, especially in this scene. Give Joaquin his Oscar statuette now!

  * Spoiler, so I won't go into detail. But it's the ending. Enough said.

  If you want big explosives, vapid lines like "it's time to meet your doom," or big sequences of impressive special effects, you will not get them here; for, this is a film that thrives purely from the strength of the actors, the quality of the script, and the remarkable scenes. This is not to say this is a film for the few people who dig boring dramas, and this is by no means an art house film. It is to say, however, that this is a film filled with touches of humour, intense drama, romance, and moral crossroads. If I had to sum this film up in one word, it would be "haunting."
  
  

• Faced With a Life Altering Decision
  By A3O90G1D7I5EGG on 2001-02-06
  "Return To Paradise" begins a little slow, but gains momentum as the film progresses. The main character (Vince Vaughn) is faced with a life altering decision: whether or not to give up a part of his life to save the life of a friend. We're treated to a wide array of conflicts including honesty versus deceit, caring versus apathy, love versus self-gratification, and guilt versus innocence. These emotional conflicts provide the twists and turns and thought provoking impact of "Return To Paradise," and fragment the viewer's concentration (not unlike that of the characters) on the key question: will Vince Vaughn do one honorable thing in his life which is not in his own self-interest?

  Despite the fact that the film doesn't travel from beginning to end in a direct line, we know the answer to the question "Does the Bad Guy become the Good Guy"? Acting is first-rate, and often makes one forget flaws in the story line. The slow unveiling of Vaughn's identity is excellent.

  I would have preferred that the film had left out the relationship between Vaughn and Heche. I found their romance unrealistic, and an unnecessary and distracting subplot. Still, "Return To Paradise" is an intriguing portrayal of people acting on emotion rather than rationale.
  
  

• Reaches into you
  By A2GHJN3PVQJI7R on 2001-11-19
  What a beautiful and painful movie...
  We find three young friends in (I believe) Malaysia living the easy life. Soon though, they are parted and what ensues is one of the more original and touching stories of recent times. Joaquin Phoenix's character stays behind as the other two (including Vince Vaughn) return to America. But soon Vaughn learns that Phoenix has been imprisoned for drugs and sentenced to a horrific judgement. Vaughn must chose whether to help his friend by sharing the burden, which he's guilty of, or letting Phoenix suffer the dire consequence.
  Joaquin Phoenix is one of those actors fortunate enough to have never suffered teen flicks and empty plots. Every movie he's done has been intriguing and innovative. As an actor he may be the best in his age range. Here, you will find such agonizing deepths of pain in his portrayal of "Lewis", a doomed man, that you may have to turn your head or cry. Every person I've shown the film to cries. Phoenix is almost too real to watch in his closing scenes. One could ponder if he used the pain over losing brother River Phoenix so tragically, to bring up the emotions for that moment. Any one scene with Joaquin Phoenix during the film is worth seeing the whole movie. It only helps then, that Vince Vaughn breaks his usual stride of good acting to dig deeper and give possibly his best performance to date. Anne Heche is also exquisite. The film's only downfall (only a slight one) is the romance between Vaughn and Heche. Though NOTHING could draw attention away from Phoenix's brilliance, the Vaugh/Heche romance doesn't have purpose and seems to slightly soften the impact of a film which could've (and I think should've) hit even harder without it.
  The point here is that while the story is fascinating, Phoenix is blindingly heart-wrenching and brings this film to an entirely different level. No young living actor could've played the scene better, or even as good. And fortunatley, the story itself is great enough, that the film isn't just a showcase of Phoenix's genius, but an overall quality film and a must see for all.
  
  
• The only film to reduce me to tears for four days after
  By on 2002-05-29
  What a beautiful performance by Joaquin Pheonix. No other film has subjected me to such distress as this. The story of an innocent abroad, such is that you come away trusting no one. The tense court room scene, which will leave you actually gasping for breath and then the look in Joaquin's eyes when the verdict has arrived.

  Never in my life have I experienced such heart wrenching stuff, that I actually cried for many days after. His desperation, his pleading and Vince Vaughn's comforting words, were like no other film I have ever seen. Joaquin Pheonix has once again, shown himself to be a very very brilliant actor and I strongly recommend people to watch Inventing The Abbotts.

  This guy should be up there with the likes of many of the top actors. Her should get the status he deserves and let us see more of this wonderful and brilliant actor.
  
  

• Touching and Provocative
  By A2NWMKTGGROUM8 on 2002-08-06
  This film was overlooked when it was released in 1998, and then it was virtually forgotten. That was unfortunate because "Return to Paradise" is a powerful (and powerfully acted) film. On the other hand, its neglect at the box office really wasn't much of a surprise; this is a serious film that doesn't allow viewers to walk away lightly, and it is therefore not the typical Hollywood escapist fare that moviegoers throng to week after week.

  But if film, like all art, is about life then serious films about complicated subjects are needed and welcome from time to time, particularly if such films treat their subject matter with respect and thoughtfulness. Three friends vacation in Malaysia (with drugs, booze, and women), two return, and one stays behind, only to find himself imprisoned and sentenced to death for possessing drugs the three of them used. His death sentence will be overturned if the other two return and serve time in prison. A lawyer (played effectively by Anne Heche) contacts the two men and tries to convince them to return.

  A serious subject, indeed, but it's the way in which the film is acted, directed, and handled that make it so touching and provocative. The film's greatest achievement is the way in which it makes the moral dilemma faced by the characters so palpably real and so powerfully complicated. It doesn't tread lightly or simplify, nor does it overburden the film with tedious, needless moralizing or cliched rhetoric. It's moral tone is spot on; it is heavy, to be sure, but you appreciate it because you, as a viewer, feel the weight as much as the characters do.

  "Return to Paradise" is also stellar because it centers on cultural differences and moral responsibility without being morally relativistic (relativistic, by the way, is how most Hollywood movies would handle such a subject). The film exposes the complexities of circumstance without making the story confusing, just as it approaches the entire story in the most balanced and judicious way. This is not a far-fetched situation (Kenneth Turan of the LA Times thought otherwise, but I disagree); in fact, it's the type of moral dilemma many have faced in their lives (not the exact situation, but the consequences of mistakes, the dilemma of deciding what to do in the midst of a painfully serious situation). This is a film based not so much on plot as it is on ethical debate.

  The acting is superb. Joaquin Phoenix's jailed, wounded Lewis is an outstanding portrayal of a soul that has withered under the weight of its situation. Anne Heche's Beth Easton is both fortitudinous and fragile. But it's Vince Vaughn's "Sheriff" that steals the show, as we witness a man who gradually evolves from careless to morally responsible -- and it's entirely believable.

  Ultimately, as we find out towards the end of the film, "Return to Paradise" is deeply humane (even in its suggestive cynicism). Sheriff does something for Lewis that virtually makes up for his past mistakes, that gives meaning to Lewis's deeply pointless and helpless misery, and that proves just how morally courageous Sheriff has become (I can't describe it without explaining the film's ending, but it inolves Sheriff yelling to Lewis through a cell window).

  Overall, a well-made film. Just be sure you have much lighter, happier fare in your DVD collection for a healthy balance.
  
  

• Thought-provoking
  By A1G2EL8DH20K3G on 2003-07-31
  I was right about my intuitions about this film. I thought it would be good, and it was great. It is one of those films that is very convincing in its ability to make you feel everything the characters are going through as they make burden-laden ethical decisions in their lives.
  Vince Vaughn's character Sheriff is easy to hate at first as the cocky, selfish guy, but his transformation is both very believable and very moving. If you need to see a movie about courage and doing the right thing in spite of the terrible consequences, this is the one.
  Unlike a majority of the other reviewers, I thought the love story between Heche and Vaughn was an asset to the film. What they have with each other at the end leaves you feeling that although the ending turns out tragic, you still feel good about how things stand.
  
  
• Vaughn and Pheonix make this one a masterpiece
  By A82LIVYSX6WZ9 on 2004-01-13
  nailbiting drama about three men who go to Malaysia and then 2 go back, a year later Phenoix is sent into a prison and Vaughn and his buddie along with Heche go back...though there's a catach...in saving Pehonix's life from prison..one of Pheonix's friends must replace him. hard decisions meets good acting..Vaughn and Phenix are superb..Heche is right up there as well, but its Vaughn and Pehonix at the end where Vaughn watches his friend get hanged....its too much of a good movie for me..brilliant and nicely directed..the movier hits
  
  
• A make you think movie
  By on 1999-07-06
  This movie made me question my own values and morals. What would one do if they were in this situation. It was running through my head for the rest of the week. I have never felt for charecters like I did while watching. The acting made you feel as if this was truly happening to you. A real tear jerker, that left me with a memory.
  
  
• THIS IS THE GREATEST MOVIE SINCE PRIVATE RYAN!
  By on 1999-10-15
  This is a must see movie, it was shocking and used up all of you emotions making you feel drained after watching it. I wasn't expecting this movie to move me at all but I feel changed since watching it.
  
  
• Can't stop thinking about this movie!
  By on 2000-08-24
  I just rented this film a few weeks ago and can't get it out of my mind. I thought it was fantastic and from the opening credits till the closing credits I was completely absorbed. The acting was top notch and I can't believe I didn't hear more about this film when it was released. Joaquin Phoenix has definitely come out from his brother River's brilliant shadow and shows us all how talented he is in his own right. His scenes were brutal to watch, but I believed him 100 percent! Everyone's acting was equally great including the Malaysian Judge and Jada Pinkett's reporter, and though I despised her character and actions, she was compelling.

  Anne Heche and all the cast members were robbed of the praise and accolades that should have come pouring in for this film! The Director, writers and crew also deserve kudos for making such a thought provoking film.

  This movie reminds me of the Shawshank Redemption experience. It's like the little movie that could! Ignored by the media and studio marketing yet when discovered by the public on video/dvd it becomes a favorite and is definitely in my top ten. I highly recommend this movie and loved the thought provoking issues brought up. It was entertainment but at the same time I feel like I've learned something about myself in the process.
  
  

• Makes you cry
  By A1I0D1Z1IMHXD5 on 2000-12-03
  This movie still haunts me a month later, or rather, Joaquin Phoenix's performance does, especially Lewis's eerie monologue towards the end of the show. I thought he was a good actor before "Return...", but after watching i can safely say his acting is amazingly brilliant. The movie is deep, it makes you re-think your whole take on morality. I think it deserved more recognition it'd received (if any at all), and Joaquin should have gotten at least an oscar nomination for best supporting actor. The movie would be perfect, but the ridiculous love interest between Vince Vaughn's character (who was also totally believable) and Anne Heche's character soured the plot. even my mom agreed it was unbelievable. I almost cried towards the end but didn't, because i didn't want my mom to see me crying, but anyway, i won't watch this again because i feel so sorry for Lewis. Anyhow, this movie is definitely worth a watch.
  
  
• Hand Dipped Glazed Liver Dumpling
  By AVXK6WKFYSMYL on 2001-01-16
  I agree that this movie was very well made and emotionally packed, but I felt there was a point that many people missed. The well expressed and obvious themes were definetly about self-asessment and morals, but I think something that the movie makers and definetly the actors wanted people to think about was the media's relentless pursuit of a story and their blunt exploitation. There might have been a slightly exaggerated instance in this movie for cinematic effect, which was expressed well, but there are many all too real examples in real life that I think maybe if the media were non-existant the repetitiveness of actions or conclutions of events might have been dramatically altered. A few examples come easily to mind; paparazzi, school shootings, trial coverages, every "top story" on the news. It all has something, if not everything to do with the media. There was a well written case in this movie. I felt some of the actors pushed a little too hard to deliver their lines, and the attraction of Vince Vaughn and Anne Heche's characters was unimaginable, but it's all a matter of circumstance and I certainly couldn't have done better myself. Joaquin Phoenix delivered the stand out performance, convincingly portraying an isolated, insane captive. I loved the gritty, disgusted feeling I was left with in the end which is something you can't always expect from the hollywood backwash plaguing theaters. Life doesn't always turn out good, and sometimes a movie with that sort of expression is a nice change of pace. I recommend this movie if you are looking for something to center on and that is very thought provoking.
  
  
• You never know.....
  By A2BHDZ0RF1QHTY on 2001-01-29
  You never know what's in a movie. Not being a fan of Ann Heche, I avoided this one(like others). After seeing Joaquin Phoenix in Gladiator and being floored by the classic manner in which he portrayed his character, I ventured out to see all of his works. I then discovered a delicious combination of actors - Vince Vaughn and Joaquin Pheonix,leading me to this disturbing commentary made on the value of human life. In my "ethnocentric" viewpoint, I admit, I was horrified at the outcome of the verdict. The only unbelievable scene was the way events happened in delivering the verdict. This movie is worth viewing. Get your tissues ready.
  
  
• Not Exactly Paradise, But Definitely A Great Film
  By A194FSSR2W8TD1 on 2006-03-03
  I loved this film. It is a film that draws you in emotionally. It forces you to think and to take sides. It keeps you on edge and gets you so involved that you forget you are watching a film. How often does that happen? I can't say enough, it is just a great story. It is one of those films you catch yourself thinking about long after you have watched it. This is without a doubt a five star film.
  
  
• mediocre at best...
  By on 2000-03-02
  this film had a great idea behind it, but it just turned out to be a cheesy love story.
  
  
• Has a little of everything...
  By A2XCQ1UV5VTIXM on 2000-04-16
  This was a great movie for those who are looking for adventure, friendship, action, and love in a movie. I thought the acting was great. The movie really makes you think of what you would do if you were in that situation. If you like Vince, you will love this! The music is beautiful as well! It is just one of those films that stays with you for a while.
  
  

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