This is a Resurfaced review written in 2002 or earlier. For more information, please visit this link: Resurfaced Reviews.

What Dreams May Come

Rating

Director

Vincent Ward

Screenplay

Ron Bas (Novel: Richard Matheson)

Length

1h 53m

Starring

Robin Williams, Cuba Gooding Jr., Annabella Sciorra, Max von Sydow, Jessica Brooks Grant, Josh Paddock, Rosalind Chao

MPAA Rating

PG-13

Basic Plot

A man tries to find his family after his death and bring them back to him.

Review

What does the afterlife hold for us?

According to director Vincent Ward’s sappy love story, anything your mind can imagine.

Soul mates Chris and Annie Nielsen have two beautiful children. Annie (Annabella Sciorra) is an artist who runs a successful gallery. Chris (Robin Williams) is a light-hearted pediatrician who eases the fears of children who come to his office.

One day on their way to school, Chris and Annie’s children Marie (Jessica Brooks) and Ian (Josh Paddock) are killed in an accident. The grief is unbearable for both Chris and Annie who have to come to terms with their deaths.

It’s not long after that on a trip home to celebrate a special day with his wife, Chris happens upon the scene of an accident. He attempts to rescue one of the crash victims when a rogue car launches into the air and collides with him.

Chris is dead, but doesn’t realize it. A guardian angel attempts to help him come to terms with his death. After awhile, Chris realizes what’s going on and allows his wife to grieve alone and is taken to a mystical world.

His guardian angel is Albert (Cuba Gooding Jr.), who attempts to help Chris understand his surroundings and learn to control them. Chris’ afterlife mimics the paintings of his wife with flowing colors and sketched landscapes. Upon arrival, his long-dead pet dalmatian greets him.

After a brief stay in the afterlife, Albert has an appointment elsewhere and a different spirit, Leona (Rosalind Chao), guides Chris through another reality. She explains to him what the world is about and how everything is created.

When Albert returns, he bears bad news that his wife has committed suicide and has been taken to a place most easily equated to hell.

Chris refuses to accept this and begins a long search to find his wife and bring her into his reality by convincing her that it wasn’t her fault.

“Dreams” is an extremely visual film that defies explanation. It’s art direction is brilliant, but a far second to that of Pleasantville. The visual effects leave a great deal to be desired and the acting isn’t all it’s cracked up to be.

Robin Williams continues his slide into predictable performances and over-sentimental portrayals. His last great effort was 1993’s Mrs. Doubtfire.

Cuba Gooding Jr. is making it difficult to understand his Oscar win for supporting actor in a performance that lacks texture and interest. Max Von Sydow is creepy, but no more so than usual.

The only truly wonderful performance in the film is that of Annabella Sciorra. Her beauty is surpassed only by her talent and ability to capture the fear and self-loathing the part demands. Her neurotic, love-lorn mother is a breath of fresh air in an inordinately stale romantic fantasy.

“What Dreams May Come” lacks serious story appeal. Its story is not only predictable, but the ending is so sappy that bees would die of a sugar overdose. There are times when visual effects are used in shots where they need to be crisp, but fall into shallow focus thus destroying the ability to suspend disbelief.

“Dreams” tries too hard to be a serious allegory of the afterlife and falls on its face in the absence of an appropriate or intriguing plot. The visuals, while stunning, take over the film too easily.

Awards Prospects

Very few prospects, perhaps a few technical nominations, but not much else.

Review Written

November 4, 1998