Happy Accidents (2000)

72% of critics liked it
(61 reviews)
73% of users liked it
(6,743 ratings)

Is Ruby Weaver's Mr. Right really an emissary from the year 2,470, or is he just a complete loon ball? This question is at the heart of Brad Anderson's whimsical romantic comedy. The story opens with Ruby (Marisa Tomei) lamenting over her boyfriend Sam (Vincent D'Onofrio) to her shrink (Holland… More Is Ruby Weaver's Mr. Right really an emissary from the year 2,470, or is he just a complete loon ball? This question is at the heart of Brad Anderson's whimsical romantic comedy. The story opens with Ruby (Marisa Tomei) lamenting over her boyfriend Sam (Vincent D'Onofrio) to her shrink (Holland Taylor). In a series of flashbacks, the film quickly sketches Ruby as a neurotic with an unhappy track record concerning men and Sam as an oddball who is afraid of small dogs and has a barcode tattooed to his arm. But he's nuts over Ruby, and at least initially, that is enough for her. Slowly, Sam begins to reveal his "past." He tells her that he is from the Dubuque of the future and that he hails from a rare "anachronistic" family who believe that reproduction should occur the old-fashioned, fun way as opposed to the more popular cloning method. At first, Ruby is amused, until she realizes that he's not kidding. After a series of arguments, he agrees to visit Ruby's analyst, which yields unexpected results. This film premiered at the 2000 Sundance Film Festival. ~ Jonathan Crow, Rovi

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Rating, Runtime: R, 1 hr. 50 min.
Directed By: Brad Anderson
Written By: Brad Anderson
Genres: Drama, Romance, Comedy

In Theaters: Aug 24, 2001 Wide
On DVD: Dec 17, 2002
Studio: IFC Films

Critic Reviews

Eric Harrison, Houston Chronicle
The story isn't perfectly proportioned ... but it gets quirkier at the points where most romantic comedies go limp.
Joe Baltake, Sacramento Bee
Its rampant oddness is certain to polarize audiences.
Jay Boyar, Orlando Sentinel
For a high-flown fantasy, it's surprisingly down-to-Earth.
Bob Graham, San Francisco Chronicle
The actors have enough appeal to keep it moving over the speed bumps.
Terry Lawson, Detroit Free Press
The charm of Happy Accidents is that, like Ruby, we half-believe Sam Deed.
Glenn Lovell, San Jose Mercury News
The low-budget Happy Accidents may be just the tonic for those in the mood for something quirky and low-key.
Nell Minow, Common Sense Media
Tangy romantic comedy plays sly games.
Andrea Chase, Killer Movie Reviews
Vincent D'Onofrio . . . makes the stranger-in-a-strange-land thing irresistible.
Brian Mckay, eFilmCritic.com
Once again, director Brad Anderson (of SESSION 9 and NEXT STOP WONDERLAND) has earned the title "maker of chick-flicks that guys can tolerate
Chuck Wilson, L.A. Weekly
Happy Accidents looks drab and doesn't take very good advantage of its New York locations, but the neurotic intensity and emotional honesty of its two leads more than make up for it.
Brent Simon, Entertainment Today
A boxed-in [but] entertaining diversion... a small-scale surrealist love story anchored by two fully committed, highly watchable actors.
Michael W. Phillips, Jr., Goatdog's Movies
Starts off really well, progresses at an enjoyable pace, and falters a little about 2/3 of the way through.
Ted Murphy, Baseline.Hollywood.com
... an enjoyable trifle.
Jon Popick, Planet Sick-Boy
It's nothing like the sappy, crappy rom-coms we're used to seeing.
Gordon G. Geise, PopMatters
Tomei and D'Onofrio imbue their roles with the requisite warmth and fragility.
Nell Minow, Movie Mom at Yahoo! Movies
This is a tangy romantic comedy that plays sly games of its own with time as the story unfolds.

Read all 16 critic reviews

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Featured Audience Ratings

Nicki M

Slow, but worth sticking with. Very original idea for a romantic movie. Wasn't sure I liked it to start with, but it did end up being worth a watch.
Bill C

It Like like K-PAX, but with Tomei and D'Onofrio relationship as the centerpiece. Quirky and Romantic, it really doesn't reach mind bending for me. The tension of the story is held squarely "Is D'Onofrio" sane or a time traveler. There is a quirky chemestry… More
It Like like K-PAX, but with Tomei and D'Onofrio relationship as the centerpiece. Quirky and Romantic, it really doesn't reach mind bending for me. The tension of the story is held squarely "Is D'Onofrio" sane or a time traveler. There is a quirky chemestry that works, D'Onofrio is smitten with Tormei and Tormei is in love with his dedication to her (after a life full of failed romances).
Marion R

It was okay. I don't think I'm the right audience for romantic films , I guess.