Heaven Can Wait (1978)
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87% of critics liked it
(30 reviews) -
60% of users liked it
(12,684 ratings)
Opting for light entertainment after the critical satire of Shampoo (1975), producer-director-writer-star Warren Beatty remade the 1941 comic fantasy Here Comes Mr. Jordan. Dimly amiable L.A. Rams quarterback Joe Pendleton (Beatty) is prematurely called to Heaven by an over-eager escort (Buck Henry,… More Opting for light entertainment after the critical satire of Shampoo (1975), producer-director-writer-star Warren Beatty remade the 1941 comic fantasy Here Comes Mr. Jordan. Dimly amiable L.A. Rams quarterback Joe Pendleton (Beatty) is prematurely called to Heaven by an over-eager escort (Buck Henry, who co-directed) after a traffic accident. When archangel Mr. Jordan (James Mason) discovers the error, he offers to return Joe to his body, only to find that it has been cremated. On the verge of playing in the Super Bowl, Joe demands a fit body rather than the old about-to-be-murdered industrialist Farnsworth he has been offered, but he reconsiders when he sees environmentalist Betty Logan (Julie Christie) in Farnsworth's house. Assuming Farnsworth's body while keeping his sweet self, Joe hires his beloved coach Max Corkle (Jack Warden) to get him in shape (after convincing Max who he really is), sets Farnsworth's business on an eco-friendly path, and romances Betty. Farnsworth's homicidal wife (Dyan Cannon) and secretary (Charles Grodin), however, are still determined to succeed in their plan to kill him. When Mr. Jordan finally finds the Super Bowl body Joe wanted, Joe has to trade his old self for the new life -- but will he remember his love for Betty? Heaven Can Wait offered contemporary yet old-fashioned escapism and tapped into the late-1970s vogue for nostalgic fun, becoming one of 1978's most popular summer movies after Grease. Updating the original while following its blueprint, Beatty and co-writer Elaine May switched Joe's sport and turned Joe into a man of his '70s moment, adoring Betty for her convictions and favoring "green" policies over corporate greed. Gently breathing life into a classic form, Heaven Can Wait found romantic innocence in a jaded time, and it went on to receive nine Oscar nominations, including Best Picture. ~ Lucia Bozzola, Rovi
- Directed By
- Warren Beatty, Buck Henry
- Written By
- Elaine May, Warren Beatty
- Genres
- Romance, Sports & Fitness, Science Fiction & Fantasy, Comedy
- In Theaters
- Jun 28, 1978 Wide
- Studio
- Paramount Home Video
Critic Reviews
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Variety Staff, Variety
Heaven Can Wait is an outstanding film.
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Jonathan Rosenbaum, Chicago Reader
It's certainly likable enough and was a big hit when it came out, but one could hardly call it an auspicious artistic debut -- a crafty commercial entertainment with a certain amount of intelligence is more like it.
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Derek Adams, Time Out
The film drags its feet uncertainly from beginning to end.
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Vincent Canby, New York Times
There's nothing worse than a pushy narrative.
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Roger Ebert, Chicago Sun-Times
This is the kind of upbeat screwball comedy Hollywood used to do smoothly and well.
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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Warren Beatty
as Joe Pendleton
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Julie Christie
as Betty Logan
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James Mason
as Mr. Jordan
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Jack Warden
as Max Corkle
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Charles Grodin
as Tony Abbott
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Dyan Cannon
as Julia Farnsworth
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Buck Henry
as The Escort
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Vincent Gardenia
as Lt. Krim
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Joseph Maher
as Sisk
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Dolph Sweet
as Head Coach
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R.G. Armstrong
as General Manager
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John Randolph
as Former Owner
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William Sylvester
as Nuclear Reporter
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Keene Curtis
as Oppenheim
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Hamilton Camp
as Bentley
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Jeannie Linero
as Lavinia
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Arthur Malet
as Everett
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Stephanie Faracy
as Corinne
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Larry Block
as Peters
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Jim Boeke
as Kowalsky
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Roger Bowen
as Newspaperman
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Frank Campanella
as Conway
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Paul D'Amato
as Swimmer's Friend
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Dick Enberg
as TV Interviewer
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Morgan Farley
as Middleton
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Robert Fortier
as Wealthy Man in Restaurant
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Curt Gowdy
as TV Commentator
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Bryant Gumbel
as TV Sportscaster
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Will Hare
as Team Doctor
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Jim Healy
as TV Sportscaster
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Deacon Jones
as Gorman
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William Larsen
as Renfield
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George J. Manos
as Security Guard
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Joel Marston
as Board Member
- Penelope Milford
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Richard O'Brien
as Former Owner's Adviser
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Ed Peck
as Trainer
- Elliott Reid
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Lisa Blake Richards
as Reporter
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Lee Weaver
as Way Station Attendant
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Byron Webster
as Waiter
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Harry D.K. Wong
as Gardener
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Bennie Massa
as Coliseum Security Guard
- Earl Montgomery Jr.
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Garrett Craig
as Swimmer
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Bill Sorrells
as Tomarken
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William Bogart
as Lawson
- Allison Caine

