Happy Accidents is a 2000 American science fiction romantic comedy film starring Marisa Tomei and Vincent D'Onofrio. The film follows 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.[1][2]
| 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 |
Release dates |
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Running time | 110 minutes |
| Country | United States |
| Language | English |
Plot
editRuby Weaver is weary of her long history of failed relationships with men when she meets Sam Deed 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, but after Sam's persistence, she begins to wonder. She takes him to see her therapist Meg Ford. 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.
Cast
edit- 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
- Michael McGlone as Tab
Reception
editHappy Accidents was first shown at the Sundance Film Festival on January 25, 2000.[3][4] 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.[5]
On review aggregator website Rotten Tomatoes, the film has a 71% approval rating, based on 62 reviews with an average rating of 6.36/10. The website's critics consensus reads: "Happy Accidents has enough quirkiness and charm to rise above the more formulaic entries in the romantic comedy genre."[6] In his review of the film Roger Ebert describes it as being "essentially silliness crossed with science fiction", giving the film a rating of 3 out of 4 stars.[7] Ebert's co-host on Ebert & Roeper, Richard Roeper, ranked it #8 on his top ten films of the year list.[8]
References
edit- ^ "Happy Accidents Film Locations - [otsoNY.com]". onthesetofnewyork.com. Retrieved October 14, 2022.
- ^ Chamberlain, Frances (February 27, 2000). "Looking for 'Connecticut' in the Credits". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved October 14, 2022.
- ^ McCarthy, Todd (February 1, 2000). "Happy Accidents". Variety.
- ^ Allen, Jamie (January 27, 2000). "Tomei, D'Onofrio create their own 'Happy Accidents'". CNN. Retrieved October 14, 2022.
- ^ "Happy Accidents". Box Office Mojo. IMDb. Retrieved August 25, 2021.
- ^ "Happy Accidents (2001)". Rotten Tomatoes. Retrieved August 25, 2021.
- ^ Ebert, Roger (September 14, 2001). "Happy Accidents". RogerEbert.com.
- ^ "Ebert and Roeper Top Ten Lists - Inner Mind". www.innermind.com. Retrieved August 25, 2021.