Happy Accidents (film)
| Happy Accidents | |
|---|---|
 Theatrical release poster | |
| Directed by | Brad Anderson |
| Written by | Brad Anderson |
| Produced by | Caroline Kaplan |
| Starring | Vincent D'Onofrio Marisa Tomei Nadia Dajani Richard Portnow Anthony Michael Hall Holland Taylor |
| Cinematography | Terry Stacey |
| Edited by | Brad Anderson |
| Music by | Evan Lurie |
| Distributed by | IFC Films MGM |
Release date |
|
Running time | 110 minutes |
| Country | United States |
| Language | English |
Happy Accidents is a 2000 American film starring Marisa Tomei and Vincent D'Onofrio. The movie revolves around Ruby Weaver, a New York City woman with a string of failed relationships, and Sam Deed, a man who claims to be from the year 2470. The film was shot almost entirely in Brooklyn, New York.
Plot
Ruby Weaver (Marisa Tomei) is weary of her long history of failed relationships with men when she meets Sam Deed (Vincent D'Onofrio) in a park. But after the two fall in love, Ruby becomes suspicious of Sam's past, his obsession with a "Chrystie Delancey", and "causal effect." Under pressure from her, he finally explains that he is really from the year 2470 and is what he calls a "back traveler." Ruby initially ignores this story, considering it yet another case of male nerdy weirdness, but after Sam's persistence, apparent conviction, and growing agitation, she begins to wonder. Finally she takes him to see her therapist Meg Ford (Holland Taylor). Ruby becomes worried as to Sam's sanity when he reveals that everything he has done was a deliberate attempt to change her life. In the end, both Deed and Ford turn out to be time travelers and the fatal accident that would have killed Ruby is avoided.
Main cast
- Marisa Tomei as Ruby Weaver
- Vincent D'Onofrio as Sam Deed
- Nadia Dajani as Gretchen
- Holland Taylor as Maggie Ann "Meg" Ford
- José Zúñiga as Jose
- Richard Portnow as Trip
- Sean Gullette as Mark
- Tamara Jenkins as Robin
- Sam Seder as Ned
- Tovah Feldshuh as Lillian Weaver
- Anthony Michael Hall as Himself
- Larry Fessenden as Junkie
Reception
Happy Accidents was first shown at the Sundance Film Festival on January 25, 2000 and received much praise from the audiences. The film later opened in limited release on August 24, 2001 to 2 screens in New York City, New York earning $14,840 on its opening weekend, and (the weekend before 9/11) reaching a widest release of 49 screens and grossing a total of $688,523 domestically in the United States.[1] The film received half-page ads in The Los Angeles Times, and The Washington Post, indicating the wide critical praise it had received in critics circles.
In his review of the film Roger Ebert describes Happy Accidents as being "essentially silliness crossed with science fiction", giving the film a rating of 3 out of 4 stars.[2] Ebert's co-host on Ebert & Roeper, Richard Roeper, enjoyed the film even more and ranked it #8 on his top ten films of the year list. The film received a coveted Two Thumbs Up from the duo.
On Rotten Tomatoes Happy Accidents has a freshness of 72%.[3]