Made in Heaven *** (1987, Timothy Hutton, Kelly McGillis, Maureen Stapleton, Don Murray) – Classic Movie Review 7084

Director Alan Rudolph’s appealing but minor 1987 movie Made in Heaven stars Timothy Hutton as Mike Shea, who dies while performing an heroic act but returns from Heaven where he has fallen for Annie Packert (Kelly McGillis) to find her again on Earth after she is sent there as a human.

Cult director Rudolph’s trendy romantic fantasy is distinctly odd but also sometimes touching. The problem is that screenplay by Bruce A Evans and Raynold Gideon is shaky both in the plotting and the witty dialogue departments. But, nevertheless, the film can boast enough memorable moments, star-spotting cameos and decent performances from good actors to keep you watching. It is strong at the centre, as both leads give appealing performances.

Made in Heaven stars Timothy Hutton as Mike Shea.

Cinematographer Jan Kiesser shoots in colour but the first 8 ½ minutes are in black and white.

It has a PG certificate and there is minor swearing only.

Emmett Humbird, the man in charge of Heaven, is credited to ‘himself’ [‘And starring Emmett as himself’] but is played by Debra Winger, then married to Hutton.

Also in the cast are Maureen Stapleton, Don Murray, Marj Dusay, Amanda Plummer, Mare Winningham, Timothy [Tim] Daly, Ellen Barkin, David Rasche, James Gammon, Ann Wedgeworth, Tom Petty and Neil Young.

It cost $13,000,000 and grossed only $4,572,845 in the US.

Made in Heaven is directed by Alan Rudolph, runs 103 minutes, is written by Bruce A Evans and Raynold Gideon, is shot Jan Kiesser, is produced by Raynold Gideon, Bruce A Evans, David Blocker and Alan Rudolph, is scored by Mark Isham and is designed by Paul Peters.

Films directed by Alan Rudolph: Premonition (1972), Nightmare Circus (1974), Welcome to L A (1976), Remember My Name (1978), Roadie (1980), Endangered Species (1982), Return Engagement (1983), Songwriter (1984), Choose Me (1984), Trouble in Mind (1985), Made in Heaven (1987), The Moderns (1988), Love at Large (1990), Mortal Thoughts (1991), Equinox (1992), Mrs Parker and the Vicious Circle (1994), Afterglow (1997), Breakfast of Champions (1999), Trixie (2000), Investigating Sex (2001), The Secret Lives of Dentists (2002) and Ray Meets Helen (2017).

© Derek Winnert 2018 Classic Movie Review 7084

Check out more reviews on http://derekwinnert.com