Returning Mickey Stern (2003)

31% of critics liked it
(13 reviews)
50% of users liked it
(46 ratings)

Mickey Stern (Joseph Bologna) is living in the past. When he was still in high school, Mickey (played as a young man by Joshua Fishbein) was a baseball phenom, signed by his beloved Yankees. He was on his way to Korea, proud to fight for his country. Then, visiting Fire Island with his best friend,… More Mickey Stern (Joseph Bologna) is living in the past. When he was still in high school, Mickey (played as a young man by Joshua Fishbein) was a baseball phenom, signed by his beloved Yankees. He was on his way to Korea, proud to fight for his country. Then, visiting Fire Island with his best friend, Harry (Brett Tabisel), he met Leah (Kylie Delre), a beautiful young woman on her way to medical school. Mickey and Leah quickly hit it off, spending a romantic night together before circumstances parted them. Mickey went off to Korea, where he was wounded, which ended his dreams of baseball stardom. Leah went to medical school. It wasn't until 50 years later that she wrote to him, explaining that she'd never gotten over him. He felt the same way, so they were reunited and married. They spent one joyous year together before she passed away. Now, with Harry (Tom Bosley) still at his side, Mickey returns to Fire Island to collect Leah's old things. There, he makes a startling discovery. He sees a woman who looks exactly like Leah (Delre) and even has the same name. More shocking, he finds a young man named Michael (Fishbein) who is exactly like his 17-year-old self, right down to the smallest mannerism. Everyone thinks he's crazy, but Mickey is determined to correct the mistakes of his own past through these two young people. As he fumblingly tries to bring the two together, he makes some key discoveries about his own life. Written and directed by first-timer Michael Prywes, Returning Mickey Stern was cast, in part, through a website created by Prywes, www.castourmovie.com, where visitors got to view auditions and vote among the finalists for four key roles. ~ Josh Ralske, Rovi

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Rating, Runtime: PG-13, 1 hr. 31 min.
Directed By: Michael Prywes
Genres: Comedy

In Theaters: Dec 31, 2003 Wide
On DVD: Mar 28, 2006
Studio: Metroscape Entertainment

Critic Reviews

Frank Scheck, Hollywood Reporter
A would-be magical romantic comedy whose execution doesn't live up to the cleverness of its central conceit.
Jan Stuart, Newsday
High shtick content: Enter these waters at your own risk.
Megan Lehmann, New York Post
Returning Mickey Stern barely gets off first base, although the quaint Fire Island setting makes it easy on the eye.
Dave Kehr, New York Times
Returning Mickey Stern is a sweet, well-intended picture, but like its title character, it is not quite good enough for the big leagues.
Kevin Crust, Los Angeles Times
A bland romantic comedy that comes up short on both laughs and love.
Michael Atkinson, Village Voice
The notion of grievingly happening upon your dead beloved, young and lovely again, is simple and potent, but the film's airless amateurism, belabored ethnicism ('Oy gevalt!'), and trite dialogue kill it in the water.
Edward Havens, FilmJerk.com
Those who are looking for something a little old-fashioned will be greatly rewarded.
Brent Simon, Entertainment Today
Aptly billed as 'a new old movie' ...proof that sentiment and saccharine need not necessarily go hand in hand.
David Noh, Film Journal International
For all of its complex exposition and brimming biographical detail, it feels more like a cheaply shot film-class project than a real movie.
John Patterson, L.A. Weekly
The always-watchable Bologna is the adhesive holding together this slight and gentle romantic comedy, lending it perhaps more conviction and authority than the material warrants.
Ken Fox, TV Guide's Movie Guide
Far from being charming, there's something grotesque about a desperate older man playing matchmaker to a pair of young would-be lovers, then peering at them from behind bushes and pumping each for the intimate details of their trysts.
Betty Jo Tucker, ReelTalk Movie Reviews
Unlike so many recent movies, 'Returning Mickey Stern' doesn't telegraph how things are going to turn out -- and that's refreshing.
Dennis Schwartz, Ozus' World Movie Reviews
A sweet "new old comedy" that is heavy on nostalgia and light on making waves.