‘Bounce’: A Romance about Forgiveness That Heals

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Of late I have been watching a slew of “old” movies. Some have been good (despite film making that dates the film), others prove me right. The reasons for this vary. Since I was in the mood for something new and had never watched this one, I decided to go the old-fashioned route and pop it into a VHS player. Talk about outdated.

Bounce (2000) Film Review 

Buddy Amarel (Ben Affleck) lives a life of luxury with no plans for anything to change. He’s successful in his advertising business and enjoys the nationwide traveling perks that come with that. While awaiting his flight at O’Hare, he meets Greg, a family man whose only wish is to make it home to his wife and two small children. The only problem are the weather-related cancellations. Happy where he is, Buddy offers to switch tickets when the weather improves, putting Greg on his evening flight and leaving Buddy to take a later flight. Everything is to the advantage of both strangers. Until the following morning when Buddy learns of the terrible accident.

Instead of dealing with his guilt, Buddy loses himself in alcohol before he begins a quest to find Greg’s widow, Abby (Gwyneth Paltrow). When he finds Abby, she’s struggles with the burdens of single motherhood, a real estate job, and lies that her husband divorced her because it’s easier than the truth. Two strangers in search of healing learn their connection holds a secret that may shatter them.

Gwyneth Paltrow and Ben Affleck co-star in the 2000 drama, Bounce: A #Romance about Forgiveness That Heals Share on X

Going into this one, I really wanted to like it but instead I came away with feelings of meritocracy. Logically I know it is because of my uncomplimentary thoughts about film-making from the nineties and early millennium era. Now some ten years later, its outdated quality is painful. (I know, I’m a film snob.) From the picture quality to the clothes, everything is almost laughable. I expect average productions from the forties and fifties – speaking purely from lack of modern technology, but to watch something from my generation that comes across as wanting is weird. Having said that, Bounce does offer its audience a tender story about loss and healing. With my petty complaints out of the way, let’s move on.

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Buddy and Abby are likable. They develop a sweet friendship that starts more awkward than promising (realistic on her part and understandable on his), but the fact that their entire relationship is based off Buddy’s dishonesty makes it a little harder to cheer on. The reason being, we breathlessly await the eventual fallout. Buddy’s guilt, and responsibility aren’t meant to extend as far as they do, but he’s drawn to Abby. She in turn finds she cannot write off what she sees as a “chance meeting” with this man she barely knows. The movie doesn’t focus enough on the budding relationship between them to be realistic; especially given what eventually drives them apart. It shouldn’t hurt as it does; and their relationship didn’t progress to that kind of love.

Bounce isn’t likely to become my favorite romance story by any means but it has a few sweet spots (like a scene at the water park). With time, I suspect it’s one I’ll come to appreciate.

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CONTENT: The film is PG13 for one sensual scene of two people caressing one another in a state of undress and kissing, and one unfortunate use of the f-word. There is also the implication that one character has engaged in multiple one-night stands [we see him lying in bed with a woman once, sheets appropriately placed]. Milder uses of profanity are also present.