Chances Are *** (1989, Cybill Shepherd, Robert Downey Jr, Ryan O’Neal) – Classic Movie Review 9139

Director Emile Ardolino’s cute 1989 fantasy romance Chances Are is about a woman, Corinne Jeffries (Cybill Shepherd), still faithful to her murdered lawyer husband, Louie Jeffries (Christopher McDonald). Many years later, Louie comes back to life reincarnated as a young graduate Alex Finch (Robert Downey Jr), who discovers that his previous girlfriend’s mother was his wife in his last incarnation.

The attractive playing of Cybill Shepherd, Robert Downey Jr, Ryan O’Neal and Mary Stuart Masterson brings to life a tricky Thirties-style yarn, and, with its clever and affecting screenplay by Perry Howze Randy Howze, it is handled deftly by specialist in improbable hits Ardolino, director of Dirty Dancing, Three Men and a Little Lady and Sister Act.

Chances Are is an amusing, feel-good movie: chances are you’ll like it.

Also in the cast are Christopher McDonald, Josef Sommer, Joe Grifasi, Susan Ruttan, Fran Ryan and James Noble.

Emile Ardolino died of AIDS on 20 November 1993 in Bel Air, California, aged 50.

Chances Are is directed by Emile Ardolino, runs 108 minutes, is made by TriStar Pictures and Lobell/ Bergman Productions, is released by TriStar Pictures (1989) (US), is written by Perry Howze and Randy Howze, is shot in Metrocolor by William A Fraker, is produced by Andrew Bergman (executive producer) and Mike Lobell (producer), and is scored by Maurice Jarre, with Production Design by J Dennis Washington.

Producer Mike Lobell enthused about Perry and Randy Howze’s screenplay: ‘I loved the story, and the people at TriStar felt the same way. The story moved everyone because it’s about people, love, memory, and it’s also very funny.’

It broke even on its US release. Costing $16,000,000, it grossed $16,278,590.

© Derek Winnert 2019 Classic Movie Review 9139

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Chances Are (1989): Robert Downey Jr with director Emile Ardolino.