Movie Hello Again With Shelly Long Dvd

Upon its release in 1987, the critics positively eviscerated director, Frank Perry's How-do-you-do Once more – the moving picture that helped launch Shelley Long'southward postal service-Cheers film career. But hey, what practice the critics know? Hello Once more went on to attain #2 condition at the box function on its opening weekend and easily earned a whopping $20,419,446 during its theatrical run. Non bad for an hr-and-a-half rom-com, dismissed in reviews as pedestrian, inarticulate, and just plain silly. Well…yes, to some extent, simply in a proficient way really. And anyway, any movie about a Long Island frump who chokes to death on a Due south Korean chicken ball, only to be resurrected by her tarot-card-wielding, occult-worshiping sister, tin can't be all bad. And this one certainly isn't. Viewed today, Hi Over again harks to a certain innocence in the film-making biz circa the eighties, and, for which Shelley Long, in her prime, was already well-established, thanks to her tenure equally the delightfully annoying Diane Chambers on NBC's long-running sitcom, Cheers (1982-93). By 1987, the year Long chose to leave that hit-making serial and focus exclusively on her picture career, everybody knew Shelley Long'south proper noun. And, also, by 1987, Long had proven she could hold her own, if non exactly 'acquit' a picture, costarring in the politically incorrect and hilarious, Night Shift (1982), Irreconcilable Differences (1984), The Coin Pit (1986) and positively 'outrageous' Outrageous Fortune (1987). Bated: I sincerely hope we volition be getting Outrageous Fortune on Blu-ray from Kino Lorber, sooner rather than later. Long's great gift to the movies is her power to convey undeniable wholesomeness; on this outing, peppered with more than a hint of clutzy amuse that, on whatever other actress would appear just apparently idiotic and dumb, just in Long's capable hands, comes across as unassumingly desperate and wonderful. Cast as Lucy Chadman, the proverbial 'fish out of water', Long excels at presenting us with a woman so eager to fit into her married man's world that she all but mangles every final opportunity to brand a success of these ambitions, despite her verve, and, his patience and understanding.

Hello Again costars Corbin Bernsen, whose sex appeal was made secure by his big break as hot shot chaser, Arnold Becker on Television set's Fifty.A. Police (1986-94), a role tailor-fabricated for the dashing Bernsen, and, in which he would go on to toil until the bear witness's cancellation. Bernsen's motion-picture show career dated all the fashion back to Elvis' 1967 creaky musical, Clambake, simply thereafter, was repeatedly stalled, before being relegated to C-course chuck prior to How-do-you-do Again . Afterwards, Bernsen continued to costar, merely now, commanding a higher salary and, in some fairly high-contour movies; 1989's Major League and 1991'due south Shattered among them. Yet, the noteworthy in Howdy Again 's cast is Gabriel Byrne, who came to American audiences' attention in 1987 after a formidable tenure in BBC-produced Television dramas and mini-serial. Byrne is, by far, the most accomplished thespian here, capable of acting circles around his co-stars. The beauty in his performance in Hello Over again is that he is not trying quite so difficult and never upstages his peers, but nevertheless holds his own while holding zero back as Dr. Kevin Scanlon, a skeptic who, at commencement, doesn't believe Lucy has come back from the dead, only then, begins to fall in love with her.  Arguably, the flashiest turns in the motion-picture show are polar opposites: second-billed Judith Ivey as Lucy'due south eccentric sister, Zelda, who runs an occult shop in Greenwich, and, Sela Ward, every bit the glacial bitch in heels/fashion plate anybody loves to hate.

Howdy Again 'due south screenplay by Susan Isaac takes its time setting upwardly all of these characters, assuasive each thespian more than a few fundamental moments in which to polish.  Remember, everything hither unravels in only an hr and a half. And Issac is not eager to get to the punchline that kick starts the activeness either. Lucy's death and render come about midway through our story – long enough for the audience to get invested in the life Lucy and Jason had earlier her demise, and just long enough to get reacquainted with this past imperfect, hopefully to lead the states into the picture's 'hearts n' flower' finale. Yet, Isaac has spent her pages wisely, and director, Frank Perry, his run-fourth dimension, better still. Nothing e'er seems overly rehearsed, rushed, or wanting for something to say. Points are made and the plot moves on, with poignant vignettes devoted to Lucy'south reunion with her son, Danny (Thor Fields), and ever-evolving romance with Dr. Scanlon. Information technology all works on a superficial level, for which a good deal of these vintage Disney/Touchstone comedies from the eighties were well-known, and even meliorate suited to tug at our proverbial heartstrings while ever so mildly massaging the funny bone.

The comedy hither is not of the 'kicking in your crotch' ilk. There'south no 'in your face up' Melissa McCarthy blue humor to taint the quaint and arrive utterly appalling. Aside: I am sincerely tired of shock comedies. Aren't you lot? Hello Again is beautiful, innocent fun, with adults behaving badly, simply in the sense that they seem genuinely oblivious and slightly obtuse as to what passes for tact. Perry opens his picture show with a close-up of Lucy Chadman, nervously biting her lip, practicing her 'introductory' political party schtick in front of a vanity mirror to print her husband, Dr. Jason Chadman's (Corbin Bernsen) hoity-toity associates. And while Lucy cannot seem to strike the right tone, Jason gingerly assures her she will practice just fine by being herself. The occasion this fourth dimension is a dinner party given by Phineas Devereux (Robert Lewis), the President of the Knickerbocker hospital's Board of Trustees. Alas, Lucy's nerves get the better of her when some of the stylish mavens give her the cold shoulder, and, a party guest seated next to her at dinner makes light of the fact she is 'simply' a housewife and mother. Lucy is proud of her son, Danny, who is aspiring to be a chef. Also, at the party, Lucy'south best friend, Kim Lacey (Sela Ward); a stunningly handsome, but thrice-divorced minx on the make, begrudging that the son of her third husband, Hastings Jr. (Austin Pendleton) has since inherited everything. Back in higher, Kim set her cap for Jason. Mercifully, then he preferred Lucy, and arguably, still does. Asked by Lucy if she should 'be' more than like Kim, Jason explains the trouble with Kim is that her only interest in men is what she tin can become out of them.

As a prominent plastic surgeon, living fashionably on Long Island, Jason gets invited to all the big hospital functions. Merely Lucy seems ever sick-equipped to carry herself with confidence, accidentally setting fire to a barbequing swordfish during Phineas' four^th of July picnic. This amuses Junior Lacey greatly, equally he likewise is a bit of an oddball among this stuffy clan – his saving grace; he has more than money than God, and much to the benefit of many charitable organizations, including the infirmary's fundraising for the new plastic surgery fly. Nosotros too come across Lucy'south sister, Zelda – a mystic who owns an occult shop in Greenwich where she reads tarot cards and makes charts based on astrological signs and numerology. Jason tolerates Zelda, to a point, but finds her eccentricities a bit of an embarrassment during his and Lucy'due south hosting of a social gathering at their home for the Knickerbocker trustees and their wives.  Non long thereafter, Lucy allows Kim to have her on a brand-over shopping spree. It volition be the last chapter in the showtime human activity of Lucy Chadman'south old life. For, upon her inflow at Zelda's shop to evidence off her new dress, Lucy is invited by her sis to partake of a South Korean chicken ball. Zelda is concerned about Lucy'southward aura and for good reason. The chicken sticks in Lucy's throat and she chokes to decease, unable to be revived in Knickerbocker'due south emergency room by attention dr., Dr. Kevin Scanlon. While Jason and Danny sincerely mourn the loss, Zelda contemplates what the future may hold for her dearly departed sister.

Afterward accepting a new assignment of occult books at her store, Zelda discovers the secrets of life and expiry in a dusty volume of 'The Wisdom of Catagonia'.  With some practice turns, Zelda arrives at the cemetery, 1 year to the day of Lucy'due south funeral, holding a ceremony by candlelight. Her incantations successfully resurrect Lucy from the dead. Appalled to find herself wearing the rather ugly dress Kim had picked out for her on their shopping spree ane year earlier, Lucy remains otherwise unconvinced by Zelda'due south explanation: that she was, in fact, dead for a whole year. Believing no fourth dimension has passed, Lucy skulks off, borrowing $100 from Zelda for cab fare to return to the Long Island domicile she shared with Jason. Only now, Lucy is greeted past a new homeowner, who informs her Dr. Chadman was the 'former' resident. Catching up with Lucy at the train depot, Zelda finally convinces Lucy what has happened. Armed with this data, Lucy rushes off to Jason's fashionable Manhattan townhouse, shocked and shocking the hell out of Jason and Kim, who have since wed, and, are in bed together at the fourth dimension of Lucy's inflow. In curt order, Jason reconciles Lucy has, indeed, come back from the beyond. He takes her to Danny's new bistro, managed by restauranteur extraordinaire, Felicity Glick (Madeleine Potter), who also happens to exist Danny'due south married woman. Whew! A lot can happen in but twelve months.

Returning to Knickerbocker'south emergency ward for clues to her extraordinary comeback, Lucy is reunited with Dr. Scanlon. He is, at first, unimpressed by Lucy's claim of resurrection. However, when virtually all of the medical tests ostend that the woman who died under his watch a twelvemonth ago and the one standing before him at present are one in the aforementioned, Kevin's medical beliefs are shaken to their core. Indeed, Lucy is a ane-in-a-million miracle. In the meantime, Lucy is determined to begin her new life. Learning the daycare, she helped to manage, has since been bulldozed to make way for a new building development, Lucy petitions Hastings Jr. to cut her a check to establish another facility within Knickerbocker hospital. Enamored with Zelda, Hastings Jr. gladly bequeaths an endowment and Lucy's dream becomes a reality. Her joy is short-lived as haughty socialite, Regina Holt (Carrie Nye) discovers Lucy is alive and wastes no time telephoning Liz Smith for 'the scoop of a lifetime'. In reply, the printing descends upon Knickerbocker, forcing Lucy to hold a printing conference. Asked by i of the reporters what she would like to say to the world at large, Lucy simply replies, "Hello again!" The press has a field 24-hour interval, turning Lucy and Zelda's lives upside down.

Jason is amused by Lucy'southward sudden popularity. Indeed, he has begun to fall in dearest with his ex-wife again, incurring Kim'due south wrath. When Jason agrees to run into Lucy for tiffin at Danny and Felicity's eating house, he inadvertently triggers his new wife to launch her own counteroffensive to destroy Lucy's reputation. Kim holds her own press briefing, proposing alternate theories nearly Lucy'south miraculous render: drugs that can wearisome down a person'south metabolic charge per unit to present the illusion of death, and, the bribing of a funeral parlor to 'stage' the burial while Lucy went off to alive as a recluse with Zelda for a twelvemonth. Asked to quantify or dismiss these allegations, Lucy instead has nothing to add, believing her silence will bandage the glare of the spotlight on Kim and Jason, allowing her and Kevin to begin their new lives together. Instead, the press turns against her. Phineas threatens to have Kevin fired, and does dismiss Lucy from the daycare she established at Knickerbocker. Rabid fans rail against Zelda and vandalize her shop. Even the patrons who once packed Danny and Felicity's bistro have stopped coming. Realizing what she has done, Lucy decides to pull a ruse of her own.

Arriving at the official unveiling of Knickerbocker's new plastic surgery wing, with Zelda, Hastings Jr., Danny and Felicity in tow, Lucy feigns going into a trance, revived as the spirit of Hastings Sr. At starting time disbelieving, Kim begins to trust her ex-husband, who died immediately afterward making love to her (according to Kim, 'he came and went'), has returned at present to reveal the underground combination of a safe containing riches he intended to bequeath to her before his untimely passing. The caveat, Hastings Sr. demands Kim make amends for telling her lies. And then, Kim confesses to the oversupply and the press. Lucy actually did die and come back. Now, Lucy admits to having faked the séance, chagrining her ex-best friend. Jason is charmed by Lucy. She, however, is no longer interested in the life they once had together. Kevin approaches, offering his sincere apologies and confessing his undying love for Lucy. Believing she has found truthful love at concluding – a prerequisite for Lucy being able to remain among the living – our story concludes with Lucy accidentally dumping a cake off the balustrade onto the Knickerbocker trustees in the ballroom below. She, Kevin, Danny, Felicity, Zelda, and Hastings Jr. rush off together. Under the flick's end titles, we see an album depicting the weddings of Hastings Jr. to Zelda, and Lucy to Kevin; also, the pregnancies and birth of children to all of these happy couples.

Hullo Again is plume-weight fluff which, I suspect, was the gripe too many critics had with the movie upon its release. With all due respect, not every movie has to aim for the next Gone with the Wind (1939); nor, exercise I suspect, was this loftier ambition ever on director, Frank Perry's radar. What he has achieved is a low-cal-hearted and mostly enjoyable romp that never strains our patience or asks us to remember too difficult nigh the implausible loop holes in the plot. Instead, he only applies 'pic-land' logic to an already fanciful tale of love – this second time effectually – and, comes up with a dizzy souffle that possesses an allure all its own. Shelley Long strikes an enduring chord as the transmigrating soul who returns from the dorsum of across, twice as joyously 'out of affect' with reality as ever. While Hi Once more will non win whatever awards for cracking interim, the remainder of the cast practice what is expected and bear their share of the load; particularly, Judith Ivey, whose Zelda is a gloriously weird, nevertheless even more strangely no-nonsense gal. The men in Hello Once again are mere appendages, never rising to a higher place their paper-thin cutout status. The most sincerely wasted is Gabriel Byrne, who senses his part is consequential, just does what he tin to brand Dr. Kevin Scanlon a charming 2nd act romantic mate for our leading lady. Howdy Again did well in 1987 and remains friendly and fun-filled today. Its premise has grown a tad strained, possibly considering in the interim the public's collective taste in movies has veered off the rails into darker excursions, void of such out-of-the-ordinary escapist fancies. That should not negate the fact that Hello Again was, and remains, an excellent mode to laissez passer the fourth dimension with good friends or lovers who enjoy warming their hearts on a story that asks nada more than than to be center-warming and fun.

Kino Lorber's licensing agreement with the Walt Disney Co., brings more Touchstone movies, for too long absent on home video, and never given their due in howdy-def. Herein, the results yielded an exceptionally handsome Blu-ray. Colors are robust, in that dated and garish 80's palette that many volition remember with a warm fuzzy 'feel good' for those happier times, and actually shows off January Weincke's cinematography to its very best advantage. Flesh tones are accurate, if slightly leaning towards a warmer tint. Dissimilarity is excellent. There is a light smattering of motion-picture show grain, looking indigenous to its source. Age-related artifacts accept been eradicated for a but smooth and wonderfully film-like presentation. The DTS 2.0 audio is a tad strident. While William Goldstein's heavy sax-laden main titles sound magnificent, dialogue can, at times, be strident, and always, very thin, with near no bass tonality. That said, this sounds like a typical rom-com from the eighties. We get an audio commentary from motion-picture show historian, Peter Tonguette – well worth a listen – and trailers for this and other Kino Lorber production. Bottom line: Howdy Again is a cute fiddling movie that deserves to be seen again. This Blu-ray takes us back to the eighties and and then some. Now, Kino – pretty delight, give us that other Shelley Long charmer from Touchstone – Outrageous Fortune (1987), and other Touchstone movies we long to see, starting with I Dearest Trouble (1994), While You lot Were Sleeping (1995) and Downwards and Out in Beverly Hills (1986). Yes, folks – keep the proficient times coming! And say 'hello once more' to Hi Once more . Highly recommended!

FILM RATING (out of 5 – 5 being the best)

3

VIDEO/Audio

4.five

EXTRAS

one

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Source: http://nixpixdvdmoviereviewsandmore.blogspot.com/2019/07/hello-again-blu-ray-touchstone-silver.html

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