Once Around
6.8 /10 1 Votes
Director Lasse Hallstrom Initial DVD release December 28, 2004 Duration Country United States | 6.6/10 IMDb Genre Comedy, Drama, Romance Music director James Horner Writer Malia Scotch Marmo Language English | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Release date January 18, 1991 Cast Holly Hunter (Renata), Richard Dreyfuss (Sam), Danny Aiello (Joe Bella), Gena Rowlands (Marilyn Bella), Laura San Giacomo (Jan Bella)Similar movies Related Lasse Hallstrom movies Tagline The Bellas were one big happy family. Then Renata met Sam... | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Richard dreyfuss in once around 1991 movie trailer
Once Around is a 1991 romantic comedy-drama film about a young woman who falls for and eventually marries an overbearing older man who proceeds to rub her close-knit family the wrong way, while exposing the dynamics of other family members along the way. It stars Richard Dreyfuss, Holly Hunter, Danny Aiello, Laura San Giacomo and Gena Rowlands and was written by Malia Scotch Marmo and directed by Lasse Hallström.
Contents
Plot
The Bellas are a close-knit family of Italian-Americans living in Boston, Massachusetts. Joe, the head of the family, owns a construction company. He's been married to Marilyn for 34 years and they have 3 children—Tony, Renata and Jan. Jan is about to get married, leading Renata to wonder why boyfriend Rob has not yet proposed to her. Once Rob reveals that he never plans on marrying her, she leaves him and moves back in with her parents.
Renata travels to the Caribbean, where she takes a course on selling condominiums. She meets Sam Sharpe, a highly successful salesman who makes a speech at a training seminar. They become instantly attracted and Sam accompanies her back to Boston, where Renata introduces him to her family. A chain-smoking, abrasive Sam is overly eager to please. While the majority of the Bellas give Sam a chance, Jan seems to have a particular dislike of him. This upsets Renata and the siblings' rapport becomes strained. Jan eventually apologizes and gives Renata her blessing.
Sam and Renata get married, with Sam relocating his business from New York to Boston so he can spend as much time with Renata as possible. At a memorial for Joe's late mother, Sam attempts to sing a song in her honor, but the Bellas, especially Marilyn, tell him it is highly inappropriate. Renata tells Sam he's tearing her family apart. They reconcile, and the next day Renata gives birth to their child. At the baptism, Sam suffers a heart attack and is rushed to the hospital.
Now in a wheelchair, Sam is welcomed home to the Bella residence to celebrate Christmas as a family. During dinner, he lights up a cigarette, which an irritated Renata throws into a glass of wine. On a frozen lake, Renata goes skating while Sam and their daughter watch from a distance. Sam passes away while still holding his child. After the funeral, Renata mourns but is grateful for the time they spent together and for Sam changing her life for the better. Renata's father directs the funeral procession through several rotations on a traffic round-about, something Sam greatly enjoyed during his life.
Cast
Reception
The film had a mixed reception.
References
Once Around WikipediaOnce Around IMDb Once Around themoviedb.org