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Andie MacDowell, Andy Garcia, Lara Harris

Gary Starke (Andy Garcia) is New York City's supreme scalper. Tickets for the Knicks, MOMA, the pope--you name it, he can get it. To mainstream society, however, Gary doesn't exist. He doesn't work 9 ...( read more  read more... )to 5, he doesn't have either a driver's license or a Social Security number, and he isn't even sure he was born in a hospital. Just the Ticket, Richard Wenk's wonderfully understated, well written and ultimately touching romantic comedy, is the story of how Gary finally finds identity. The movie's central premise has Gary trying to score big by scalping tickets for the pope's New York City appearance in order to win back his ex-girlfriend (Andie MacDowell). Both MacDowell and Garcia have been mired in career ruts, so their sexual chemistry is Just the Ticket's biggest surprise. Wenk knows and loves these characters (he based the protagonist on a scalper he met 20 years ago, and he spent five more years pitching the script to numerous studios), and that warmth provides an energy that's so often missing in many Hollywood romantic comedies. Also engaging (and at times heartbreaking) is Richard Bradford, who plays an aging runner who serves as Gary's father figure. MGM inexplicably dumped this picture in the dead of winter in 1999. The DVD--which features audio commentary by Garcia and Wenk, deleted scenes, and a four-page booklet about the making of the film--gives the film the second chance it deserves. --Dave McCoy

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41% liked it

1,388 ratings

Critics

22% liked it

9 critics

R, 112 min.

Directed by: Richard Wenk

Release Date: February 26, 1999

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DVD Release Date: May 15, 2001

Stats: 34 reviews

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Flixster Reviews (34)

  • unicornofbalinor
    August 31, 2009
    unicornofbalinor
    Another surprising film I've seen lately. You've probably never heard of this one: A ticket scalper (Andy Garcia) going nowhere in life figures he can turn his life around and win back his girlfriend by nabbing tickets to the Pope's address at Yankee Stadium. Yeah, I know. St...( read more)ill, give this one a chance, and you won't regret it. There's a freshness that is usually completely absent in most romantic comedies, ruined in part by an unbelievably bland MacDowell. Kudos to Garcia, though - you can't help but empathize and symapthize with his character. I mean, everybody wants proof that they exist. :)
  • kriss45frog
    November 17, 2008
    kriss45frog
    It was ok but I like the song that played toward end of the movie.
  • justindavis1
    June 21, 2007
    justindavis1
    This film may have some mixed reviews, but I feel that it is a very enjoyable "sleeper" film. The premise of the film is that Gary Starke (Andy Garcia) is a ticket scalper in New York City in a relationship with Linda Palinski (Andie MacDowell). I'm going to purposefully not say ...( read more)much more about the plot, rather just a few observations. If you feel compelled even remotely, you should definitely see the film yourself. The film seems to have developed a fairly enthusiastic following. On some level it's a somewhat nostalgic, feel good movie using its New York City setting to good effect and a film which seems to be conscious of other films set in New York City. Other people have noted this but when you see Andy Garcia's character Gary Starke, Al Pacino may cross your mind. The film brought to mind Game 6, another film involving New York City and baseball, though that film came out in 2005, much after the release date of 1999 for Wenk's film. I consider Just the Ticket to be pretty unique, especially as far as romantic comedies go. That said, it does sort of tap into a certain vibe in movies involving big cities like New York, baseball, and tried and true themes like romance and church, while maintaining a likable charm amidst the ups and downs of the plot arc. I'm normally not a big fan of romantic comedy type films at all, but I recommend that people see this movie. It's good and you'll probably be glad you did. Check out the user comments also on IMDb to get a sense of the praise this film has received from viewers.
  • kimberlyaedwards
    June 21, 2007
    kimberlyaedwards
    This guy seemed to have a hard time being a part of society. Toward the end he was finally able to exist!
  • choirgirlluv
    April 8, 2007
    choirgirlluv
    love Andy Garcia, the guy has a good heart, yet very misunderstood.
  • ravenpr51
    April 4, 2007
    ravenpr51
    My sister got this movie, is was ok...
  • micc98
    December 20, 2006
    micc98
    Andie is hot, but this pretty standard claptrap
  • CloudIsAMonkey
    December 10, 2006
    CloudIsAMonkey
    Blahblahblahblah....
  • brianpark08
    December 10, 2006
    brianpark08
    Weak movie. VERY WEAK

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  • in charlie and the chocolate factory where did charlie find the money just before he won the last golden ticket?  Answer »
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