I don't have all the words right now but this film is a work of art.

Far from Perfect, Far from Terrible

As Good As It Gets

Unshakable, witty and deeply felt, the film will be paying emotional dividends for a long, long time.

Movies that are like "Just the Ticket" are never going to be box office smashes or win major awards, but they are all the same charming and well worth seeking out. It's kind of a mash between several different genres; it's alternately a comedy, a romance, and a character study. The comedy is gentle but does provoke some laughs, my favorite scene being when Andy Garcia's character impersonates a television salesman. The romance between Garcia's and Andie MacDowell's characters does have heart, plus some bittersweet moments that feel true to life. The examination of Garcia's character is really interesting. Although it's clear he's not a bad person, he is all the same a dreamer who resists the painful truths that reality have to offer, sometimes hurting people along the way. All these different genres are pretty well done and mix well together. I admit the movie is a tad long at 114 minutes in length when a slightly quicker pace might have helped. Also, what happens near the end is kind of a deus ex machina plot twist, though the happy ending it provides feels right for the movie. These nitpicks don't hurt the movie too much, however, and the movie ends up being a very pleasant sleeper.

In England they are known as Ticket Touts, but whether you know them as Touts or Scalpers the character is the same. Unpleasant. So an unlikely candidate as a leading character in a romantic comedy? Maybe so, but this is one of the things that sets this film apart from the average romantic comedy. Another is the performances. Not Oscar winning stuff maybe, but they all seem to be getting the most out of their roles. While the focus is on the relationship between Garcia and McDowell, the relationship between Garcia and his pal/father figure Benny underpins the film and ultimately is the catalyst which is the reason for the ending. Benny is ably played by Richard Bradford, at last being given a chance to stretch his wings outside of the corrupt coppers he is usually asked to play, and you would have to be a hard hearted person not to be touched by his portrayal. It is such a shame that so much of "Benny" ultimately ended up on the cutting room floor and so we are only given a glimpse of why Garcia takes him under his wing.If you want your intellect stretched, look elsewhere. But if you want to curl up on the sofa armed with a box of Kleenex and a box of chocolates, you could do a lot worse than let this film into your living room.

If you are looking for a movie that's perfect, and you want to nitpick about the chemistry between the characters or the subtle nuances of one particular character, don't watch this one. But if you're the kind that, instead of using a microscope to analyze something, would prefer to appreciate something by standing back at a distance and taking it all in, and especially if you like romantic comedies, this is absolutely, definitely the movie for you.I can't believe any company would decide not to put this movie in the theaters. It was a very good movie; not a "Bull Durham" in quality of storyline, directing, etc., but it made me feel a helluva lot better than "Bull Durham" did in the end. There are more than a few moments where you will probably cry if you are emotional (as evidenced by my wife's reaction), and though the laughs aren't big, the lighter moments certainly work.I've never liked Andie MacDowell, and I believe she is the weak link of the entire movie. I could have seen someone like a Shelley Long or somebody else prettier than MacDowell and certainly someone with more range who would have connected better with Garcia. But it's probably that fact that makes you really want Andy Garcia to win throughout the movie. He can actually be likeable in his character's helpless role, though it's more like the Al Pacino impression that he always does. Look for Don Novello, a/k/a "Father Guido Sarducci" as one of Gary's friends. Kudos to Richard Bradford, who really made the movie special with his portrayal of Benny, the punch-drunk former boxer & ticket hustler; he brought the "heart" to the movie.It really moves well from the 30 minute point on, so give it a few minutes if you're not getting into it, but I predict, if you have a heart at all, you will appreciate this movie from start to finish, and it builds and progresses like a good movie should to a great and cute ending.It was so good I bought the DVD!

Totally prepared for a-rainy-afternoon-fun-with-movie, got something else. A bunch of sorry people of which you know little more afterwards, an unlikely couple (Garcia and McDowall) and an unavoidably slick villain. The end is unpredictable but corny at the same time. In conclusion: the makers should better have made a clear choice either way, comedy or drama. Now it is neither.