Chances Are (1989)

63% of critics liked it
(24 reviews)
65% of users liked it
(8,408 ratings)

Handsome young Washington attorney Louie Jeffries (Chris McDonald) has it all: a promising career, a beautiful wife, and a baby on the way. But after discovering a local judge is in cahoots with the Mob, Louie bites it in a car crash and finds himself in Heaven. Unsatisfied with the customer service… More Handsome young Washington attorney Louie Jeffries (Chris McDonald) has it all: a promising career, a beautiful wife, and a baby on the way. But after discovering a local judge is in cahoots with the Mob, Louie bites it in a car crash and finds himself in Heaven. Unsatisfied with the customer service he's receiving, Louie jumps the gun and gets himself reincarnated -- before being administered the magic injection that will remove his memories of his former life. For the next quarter-century, Louie's museum curator wife, Corinne (Cybill Shepherd), remains true to her husband's memory, ignoring the frustrated devotion of Louie's best friend, Philip Train (Ryan O'Neal). Meanwhile, Louie's soul grows up in the body of Alex Finch (Robert Downey Jr.), an aspiring journalist. Alex's memories of his life as Louie return after he becomes romantically involved with Miranda (Mary Stuart Masterson) -- the daughter he never got to meet. Soon, Alex/Louie is romancing his wife, spurning his daughter's advances, and frustrating Philip's attempts finally to woo Corinne. Written by Mystic Pizza scribes Perry and Randy Howze and directed by Emile Ardolino of Dirty Dancing fame, Chances Are didn't score as well at the box office as those earlier comedies. Its soundtrack, however, generated the hit Peter Cetera and Cher ballad "After All." ~ Brian J. Dillard, Rovi

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Rating, Runtime: PG, 1 hr. 48 min.
Directed By: Emile Ardolino
Genres: Romance, Science Fiction & Fantasy, Comedy

In Theaters: Mar 10, 1989 Wide
On DVD: Apr 14, 1998
Studio: Sony Pictures Home Entertainment

Critic Reviews

Jonathan Rosenbaum, Chicago Reader
A lot of fun.
Variety Staff, Variety
A potentially charming premise yields only a handful of chuckles.
Janet Maslin, New York Times
Emile Ardolino, who directed Dirty Dancing, leaves the film hovering halfway between dewy romance and bedroom farce, but he displays little of the sharpness or comic timing needed for either one.
Roger Ebert, Chicago Sun-Times
The movie itself is surprisingly affecting, perhaps because Shepherd never goes for easy laughs but plays her character seriously.
Rita Kempley, Washington Post
As love interests go, Shepherd and Downey are about as hot as Ike and Mamie Eisenhower, though the apoplectic Downey does have his comedic moments.
Desson Thomson, Washington Post
O'Neal's performance, on the other hand, could incite angels to throw tomatoes from heaven.
, TV Guide's Movie Guide
Among the best of the body-switch films that cluttered movie screens in the late 1980s.
Trevor Johnston, Time Out
This went direct to video in Britain, but as latter-day Hollywood romantic comedies go, it has a bit more style than you might expect.
Frederic and Mary Ann Brussat, Spirituality and Practice
Chances Are is an entertaining romantic comedy.
Daniel Eagan, Film Journal International
Dull romantic comedy
Clint Morris, Moviehole
A lovely, not to mention very funny, romantic comedy
, Film4
Featherweight comedy that somehow, despite the overdone Oedipal stuff, manages to be enjoyable.
James Sanford, Kalamazoo Gazette
"effervescent foolishness with crackling chemistry between Shepherd and Downey"
Scott Weinberg, eFilmCritic.com
Cloying and syrupy stuff.
Mark R. Leeper, rec.arts.movies.reviews
Pleasant but unoriginal.

Read all 15 critic reviews

Critic ratings and reviews powered by RottenTomatoes.com

Fresh (60% or more critics rated the movie positively)

Rotten (59% or fewer critics rated the movie positively)

Featured Audience Ratings

Conner R

The cinematic counterpart to Heart and Souls; it's the other movie in which RDJ's body is taken over by restless ghouls. It's really funny and has a dynamite cast. The story is ridiculous at times, but i'm pretty sure that the intent of the movie was to play around… More
The cinematic counterpart to Heart and Souls; it's the other movie in which RDJ's body is taken over by restless ghouls. It's really funny and has a dynamite cast. The story is ridiculous at times, but i'm pretty sure that the intent of the movie was to play around with how bizarre ghost stories come off sometimes. When it want's to be, this has a great dramatic love story that spans over half a lifetime. The characters are believable as real people and their eventual conflict with RDJ having the soul of shooter MCGavin locked inside him.
Spencer S

Personally, I have a soft spot for Robert Downey Jr. films from the 90's, and Cybill Shepherd has always been a favorite of mine. That's the main reason I liked the film. It was zany, romantic, and funny. I'm sure people disagree based on their own agendas or views, but… More
Personally, I have a soft spot for Robert Downey Jr. films from the 90's, and Cybill Shepherd has always been a favorite of mine. That's the main reason I liked the film. It was zany, romantic, and funny. I'm sure people disagree based on their own agendas or views, but that's how I felt about the film, honestly.
Leigh R

Weird, but funny and adorable.
xGary X

A reasonable romantic fantasy in which Cybill Shepherd's husband is reincarnated in the form of Robert Downet Jr., and proceeds to continue to woo her from beyond the grave. The criminal conspiracy sub plot seems tacked on, but Downey Jr. and Ryan O'Neil are affable romantic… More
A reasonable romantic fantasy in which Cybill Shepherd's husband is reincarnated in the form of Robert Downet Jr., and proceeds to continue to woo her from beyond the grave. The criminal conspiracy sub plot seems tacked on, but Downey Jr. and Ryan O'Neil are affable romantic competitors and it has some modicom of charm. But doesn't anyone else find it just a little WRONG that the guy ends up sleeping with his own daughter...?!
Dean M

Robert Downey Jr. is so hilarious in this heart-warming story of a man who gets an unforgettable second chance at love.
Burger S

Good RD Jr movie.
Jessica v

What? What just happened here? I swore... no, that can't be RDJ... no, it's... too... horrible... Okay, needless to say, this was a giant, f'ing disaster. There were a couple of giggle-worthy moments, but the convoluted plot and wretched script, coupled with flat… More
What? What just happened here? I swore... no, that can't be RDJ... no, it's... too... horrible... Okay, needless to say, this was a giant, f'ing disaster. There were a couple of giggle-worthy moments, but the convoluted plot and wretched script, coupled with flat characters and incomprehensible choices of scenes... yeah. A giant, f'ing disaster. I would say this film suffers from "This scene is here because..." syndrome. I can just imagine the creative crew in a room, discussing, "Well, we need to show these two characters are close. Let's get them dancing on a merry-go-round! We need to show some sort of connection between the two lives. Ooh, let's keep making the same awkward situation fifty times! And don't forget, Cher needs to sing that final tune. Plot relevancy? Phfffft. Who *cares* about that, anyway." This officially makes my "Avoid Like the PLAGUE" list.
Donna D

A wonderful comedy. Of course this will never happen, but watching Robert Downey, Jr. perform in this amusing comedy is worth it. I loved the dance scene, which is my favorite with elder lady Fran Ryan at the Ball. Totally hilarious. A chick flick definitely. ;)
Dimitris S

There are times when you wish to say once in a while "oh,I'm bored,why don't I tune in the TV and hey,stop on the first movie to watch,in case it might be a little interesting"? Well,to be honest,this one was.After 40 minutes or so,the plot-line was so familiar you… More
There are times when you wish to say once in a while "oh,I'm bored,why don't I tune in the TV and hey,stop on the first movie to watch,in case it might be a little interesting"? Well,to be honest,this one was.After 40 minutes or so,the plot-line was so familiar you wanted to squeeze each screenwriter who passed film school.
Leo L

A favorite.

Read all 10 featured audience ratings

Cast

            Cybill Shepherd as Corinne Jeffries

            Robert Downey Jr. as Alex Finch

            Ryan O'Neal as Philip Train

            Mary Stuart Masterson as Miranda Jeffries

            Christopher McDonald as Louie Jeffries

            Josef Sommer as Judge Fenwick

            Joe Grifasi as Omar

            Susan Ruttan as Woman in Bookstore

            Fran Ryan as Mavis Talmadge

            James Noble as Dr. Bailey

            Nat Benchley as Marshal

            Channing Chase as Aide at Smithsonian

            Franchelle Dorn as Receptionist

            Jacquelyn Drake as Bradlee's Secretary

            Henderson Forsythe as Ben Bradlee

            Kathleen Freeman as Mrs. Handy

            Martin Garner as Mr. Zellerbach

            Mimi Kennedy as Sally

            Lester Lanin as Conductor

            Marc McClure as Richard

            Cliff McMullen as Marshal

            Dennis Patrick as Archibald Blair

            Andrew Reilly as Limbodrome Staff

            Don Richards as Bonino's Defense Attorney

            Gianni Russo as Anthony Bonino

            June Thorne as Clerk of the Court

            Ricardo de Angelis as Hot Dog Vendor

            Carey Hauser as Paramedic

            Dennis Mancini as Minister

            Laura Lee Stetzel as Paramedic

            Max Trumpower as Minister
See full cast

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