Amazon.com essential video: A gung-ho and merciful angel (Buck Henry) pulls Joe Pendleton (Beatty), a football star, out of his body before his time, forcing the higher powers to come up with a substitute host. Joe settles on a vicious multimillionaire whose wife and partner are trying to kill him. Light, breezy, with not a mean bone in its body, Heaven is based on the 1941 film Here Comes Mr. Jordan. Beatty is wonderfully daft and innocent as Joe, Jack Warden is on top of his form as Joe's trainer Corky, and Julie Christie appears to be playing a diaphanous summer dress. Great comic relief is provided by Dyan Cannon, Charles Grodin, and the notion that the 1978 Los Angeles Rams could go to the Superbowl. --Keith Simanton
Wonderful -- get it I watched this movie for the first time about a month ago off cable and was so impressed I had to purchase the DVD to add to my library. Years ago when this was at the theater I assumed it was some sort of mockery against God, but it isn't at all. While not the same type of theme, I put the story line on par with The Bishop's Wife (Cary Grant).
Heavenly! This is one of my all-time favorite movies. Although I have seen it several times, I recently purchased the DVD--this movie is a keeper!
The writing is bright and funny, and the cast is spot-on perfect. Warren Beatty, Julie Christie, Charles Grodin, Dyan Cannon, James Mason, Jack Warden, Buck Henry . . . what an amazing, talented group of actors, each doing what they do best.
"Heaven Can Wait" is one of those gems that will make you laugh out loud, no matter how many times you have seen it before.
And if you want to see another hilarious movie about death (Really!) also pick up Defending Your Life, by Albert Brooks. Hmmm . . . these two movies would make a great double feature.
BEATTY HAS NEVER BEEN MORE LIKABLE! I recently watched this film after not seeing it for at least a decade. It is just one of those movies you can watch whenever it comes on. Beatty is likable as the football pro who dies before his time and Julie Christie looks as good and as sexy as ever! Jack Warden is always welcome in any film. It still holds up today as a very good romantic/comedy. I guess I'm going to have to revisit Shampoo now. ;-b
A classic. Some films have that magical ability to cleanly entertain the viewer, and make us feel good. Some do not. This one does, in Spades. Sadly, this film also shows how good an actor Warren Beatty could have been if he had stayed away from politics and stuck to acting. Because this film really shines with an entertaining plot with a moral lesson, a touching love interest, superb acting by the entire cast, a touch of class, and yes, a touch of that magic that some films manage and some don't. Again, this one does.
I shan't bother to rehash the plot--others here do that very well. Suffice to say I think that almost anyone with a pulse will be touched by, and entertained by, this excellent film. Highly recommended.
One of my favorites No matter how many years go by, no matter how many times I've seen this movie in both VHS and DVD, it remains one of my top 3 feel good movies of all time (along with Cousins and My Big Fat Greek Wedding). Excellent performances by all. The chemistry is special, and I'm a sucker for a real happy ending with a lesson. When I'm down, this is guaranteed to lift my spirit and make me smile.
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