Review of What Dreams May Come (1998) by Anthony L — 24 Jun 2012

Like some before him and many after him Robin Williams from time to time will take the leap from comedian to comedic actor to serious dramatic actor. Sometimes these people fail but Robin Williams has a knack for really doing this well.

In this movie Rob plays Chris who (along with his wife) suffers the loss of their two children in a car accident. Some years later Chris himself ironically dies in much the same way leaving his wife alone. The movie really takes off (both in story and visually). Chris experiences his afterlife which is done fantastically and is still pretty striking visually (given the advancements in technology). He soon realizes that he and his wife have a strong bond even in death, but things change when she takes her own life and ends up in a âhell like placeâ?. The movie is then his quest to venture there and bring their family back together.

If you are not a person of faith, fear not! This movie never really came across as some kind of religiously themed soap box affair, in fact rarely is faith ever really mentioned. The move while fantastic looking does has some flaws, name the hamming acting of Cuba Gooding Jr. whom I can never seem to enjoy in a movie.

There are also a few goofy scenes of Chris exploring his new found afterlife that came off as cheesy to me and probably would have been served to rest on the cutting room floor. The creepily named Max Von Sydow churns in a typical old wise man/guide type character but I still canâ(TM)t help but like him.

Overall this movie will likely tug at your heartstrings and is likely best served to be watched with your significant other so as to inform them that you too would be willing to go to hell to save them. Seriously though this is a pretty solid film that is definitely worth a rental or it is readily available to add to your Netflix queue!