Always (1989)
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64% of critics liked it
(22 reviews) -
57% of users liked it
(22,071 ratings)
For all its state-of-the-art special effects, Always is essentially a remake of the 1943 Spencer Tracy-Irene Dunne fantasy vehicle A Guy Named Joe--minus the wartime context. Richard Dreyfuss stars as a reckless fire-fighting pilot who is killed in what was to have been his final mission. Ascending… More For all its state-of-the-art special effects, Always is essentially a remake of the 1943 Spencer Tracy-Irene Dunne fantasy vehicle A Guy Named Joe--minus the wartime context. Richard Dreyfuss stars as a reckless fire-fighting pilot who is killed in what was to have been his final mission. Ascending to Heaven, Dreyfuss is introduced to businesslike angel Audrey Hepburn (playing the equivalent of the Lionel Barrymore role in A Guy Named Joe). Hepburn instructs the spectral Dreyfuss to pass on his aviation knowhow to his young successor, Brad Johnson. Our ghostly hero also smoothes the course of romance for his earthly girl friend Holly Hunter, who after several months' worth of grieving has fallen in love with Johnson. John Goodman injects a dose of comedy relief as Dreyfuss' faithful buddy. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi
- Directed By
- Steven Spielberg
- Written By
- Jerry Belson, Dalton Trumbo
- Genres
- Drama, Romance, Science Fiction & Fantasy
- In Theaters
- Dec 22, 1989 Wide
- Studio
- MCA Universal Home Video
Critic Reviews
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Janet Maslin, New York Times
Although Always is filled with big, sentimental moments, it lacks the intimacy to make any of this very moving.
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Roger Ebert, Chicago Sun-Times
The result is a curiosity: a remake that wasn't remade enough.
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Rita Kempley, Washington Post
An unfulfilled promise, a plummeting dove.
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Christopher Null, Filmcritic.com
For all its Spielbergian action and production values, the film is painfully sappy and wastes its A-list cast by saddling them with a hamfisted script.
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Rob Thomas, Capital Times (Madison, WI)
Whimsical and affecting enough, but certainly a lesser Spielberg film.
See more critic ratings and reviews on Rotten Tomatoes
Fresh (60% or more critics rated the movie positively)
Rotten (59% or fewer critics rated the movie positively)
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Cast
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Richard Dreyfuss
as Pete Sandich
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Holly Hunter
as Dorinda Durston
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Brad Johnson
as Ted Baker
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John Goodman
as Al Yackey
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Audrey Hepburn
as Hap
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Roberts Blossom
as Dave
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Keith David
as Powerhouse
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Ed Van Nuys
as Nails
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Marg Helgenberger
as Rachel
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Doug McGrath
as Bus Driver
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J.D. Souther
as Singer
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Ted Grossman
as Fisherman #2
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Brian Haley
as Alex
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Michael Steve Jones
as Grey
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James Lashly
as Charlie
- Alan Rachins
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Kim Robillard
as Air Traffic Controller
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Jim Sparkman
as Dispatcher
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Rick van Nutter
as Nails
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Dale Dye
as Fire Boss
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David Kitay
as Band
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Joseph McCrossin
as Mechanic
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Taleena Ottwell
as Bar Girl
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Gerry Rothschild
as Carl the Barkeep
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Loren Smothers
as Bartender

