RETURN TO ME

In RETURN TO ME, a man must cope with life after losing his wife in a car accident. Over a year later, he falls in love with a woman who unknowingly received his deceased wife’s heart after a transplant. When the unusual situation is revealed, he must deal with past and present love.

Since his wife’s death, Bob Rueland (David Duchovny of THE X-FILES) is a bear to work with at his job, where he is fulfilling the aspiration of his late wife, a primatologist, to build an ape sanctuary. His house is a mess, he orders take-out food every night, and his social life isn’t any better. It’s not until he realizes he needs to move on that he accepts an offer from a friend to go out on a blind date.

Meanwhile, a year has passed since Grace (Minnie Driver of AN IDEAL HUSBAND) underwent her heart transplant surgery. She’s thrilled with the ability to paint, work in her garden, even ride her bike – all under the protective watch of her grandfather (Carroll O’Connor of TV’s IN THE HEAT OF THE NIGHT) and his friends. Though Grace realizes she has received a precious gift, she also knows that, because she lives, someone else had to die. After much personal debate, she decides to send a thank-you letter to the surviving party.

Bob goes to her grandfather’s restaurant to meet his friends and his blind date. The date turns out to be a disaster, though he immediately clicks with the waitress, who happens to be Grace. Trying to leave his horrible date, Bob tells his friends he has to work and rushes off, accidentally leaving his cell phone behind. When Grace leaves a message for Bob, the two meet again and begin dating soon after that. Apprehensive about her surgical scars, she puts off telling Bob, fearing his reaction.

One evening, Grace visits Bob at his house and, while looking for some music to play, comes across the thank-you letter she wrote about her heart. Stunned with disbelief, she rushes off. The next day, she decides to leave for Europe and tells Bob what she has found. Equally stunned, Bob is faced with the overwhelming situation of his past and present love.

Romantic comedies often take the brunt of a critic’s force, and RETURN TO ME, though standard, is not typical by any means. Though the story is quite unusual, the characters are portrayed with realistic strength. This makes the humor and drama come alive. The attraction between Bob and Grace defies the tradition of so many movies because there are no immoral sexual intentions between them. While Grace is ashamed of her surgical scar, an unknowing Bob is depicted as being concerned with her inner beauty. Their relationship is based on true love and good moral character. The movie also includes mentions of “God’s blessing” during emotional turmoil.

Regrettably, however, RETURN TO ME has some scars of its own, mainly several profanities and obscenities used primarily by a supporting character, whose child repeats two of these words. Language use and other content, including lying and gambling, should be talked about with children. Ultimately, therefore, this movie is a strongly moral love story requiring discernment and discussion.