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Cybill Shepherd, Robert Downey Jr., Ryan O'Neal, Mary Stuart Masterson, Christopher McDonald ... see more see more... , Josef Sommer , Joe Grifasi , Susan Ruttan , Fran Ryan , James Noble , Nat Benchley , Channing Chase , Franchelle Dorn , Jacquelyn Drake , Henderson Forsythe , Kathleen Freeman , Martin Garner , Mimi Kennedy , Lester Lanin , Marc McClure , Cliff McMullen , Dennis Patrick , Andrew Reilly , Don Richards , Gianni Russo , June Thorne , Ricardo de Angelis , Carey Hauser , Dennis Mancini , Laura Lee Stetzel , Max Trumpower

Handsome young Washington attorney Louie Jeffries (Chris McDonald) has it all: a promising career, a beautiful wife, and a baby on the way. But after discovering a local judge is in cahoots with the M... read more read more...ob, Louie bites it in a car crash and finds himself in Heaven. Unsatisfied with the customer service he's receiving, Louie jumps the gun and gets himself reincarnated -- before being administered the magic injection that will remove his memories of his former life. For the next quarter-century, Louie's museum curator wife, Corinne (Cybill Shepherd), remains true to her husband's memory, ignoring the frustrated devotion of Louie's best friend, Philip Train (Ryan O'Neal). Meanwhile, Louie's soul grows up in the body of Alex Finch (Robert Downey Jr.), an aspiring journalist. Alex's memories of his life as Louie return after he becomes romantically involved with Miranda (Mary Stuart Masterson) -- the daughter he never got to meet. Soon, Alex/Louie is romancing his wife, spurning his daughter's advances, and frustrating Philip's attempts finally to woo Corinne. Written by Mystic Pizza scribes Perry and Randy Howze and directed by Emile Ardolino of Dirty Dancing fame, Chances Are didn't score as well at the box office as those earlier comedies. Its soundtrack, however, generated the hit Peter Cetera and Cher ballad "After All." ~ Brian J. Dillard, Rovi

Flixster Users

65% liked it

8,408 ratings

Critics

63% liked it

24 critics

PG, 1 hr. 48 min.

Directed by: Emile Ardolino

Release Date: March 10, 1989

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DVD Release Date: April 14, 1998

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Stats: 398 reviews

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Flixster Reviews (398)

  • ythelastman89
    February 22, 2011
    ythelastman89
    The cinematic counterpart to Heart and Souls; it's the other movie in which RDJ's body is taken over by restless ghouls. It's really funny and has a dynamite cast. The story is ridiculous at times, but i'm pretty sure that the intent of the movie was to play around with how bizar... read morere ghost stories come off sometimes. When it want's to be, this has a great dramatic love story that spans over half a lifetime. The characters are believable as real people and their eventual conflict with RDJ having the soul of shooter MCGavin locked inside him.
  • FrizzDrop
    September 24, 2010
    FrizzDrop
    Personally, I have a soft spot for Robert Downey Jr. films from the 90's, and Cybill Shepherd has always been a favorite of mine. That's the main reason I liked the film. It was zany, romantic, and funny. I'm sure people disagree based on their own agendas or views, but that's ho... read morew I felt about the film, honestly.
  • dreamfaeries
    August 11, 2009
    dreamfaeries
    Weird, but funny and adorable.
  • garyX
    July 14, 2007
    garyX
    A reasonable romantic fantasy in which Cybill Shepherd's husband is reincarnated in the form of Robert Downet Jr., and proceeds to continue to woo her from beyond the grave. The criminal conspiracy sub plot seems tacked on, but Downey Jr. and Ryan O'Neil are affable romantic comp... read moreetitors and it has some modicom of charm. But doesn't anyone else find it just a little WRONG that the guy ends up sleeping with his own daughter...?!
  • deano
    February 19, 2007
    deano
    Robert Downey Jr. is so hilarious in this heart-warming story of a man who gets an unforgettable second chance at love.
  • burgerstar
    August 29, 2011
    burgerstar
    Good RD Jr movie.
  • unicornofbalinor
    February 19, 2009
    unicornofbalinor
    What?
    What just happened here? I swore... no, that can't be RDJ... no, it's... too... horrible...
    Okay, needless to say, this was a giant, f'ing disaster. There were a couple of giggle-worthy moments, but the convoluted plot and wretched script, coupled with flat characters a... read morend incomprehensible choices of scenes... yeah. A giant, f'ing disaster. I would say this film suffers from "This scene is here because..." syndrome. I can just imagine the creative crew in a room, discussing, "Well, we need to show these two characters are close. Let's get them dancing on a merry-go-round! We need to show some sort of connection between the two lives. Ooh, let's keep making the same awkward situation fifty times! And don't forget, Cher needs to sing that final tune. Plot relevancy? Phfffft. Who *cares* about that, anyway." This officially makes my "Avoid Like the PLAGUE" list.
  • donnarenee2006
    October 21, 2008
    donnarenee2006
    A wonderful comedy. Of course this will never happen, but watching Robert Downey, Jr. perform in this amusing comedy is worth it. I loved the dance scene, which is my favorite with elder lady Fran Ryan at the Ball. Totally hilarious. A chick flick definitely. ;)
  • jimbotender
    September 27, 2008
    jimbotender
    There are times when you wish to say once in a while "oh,I'm bored,why don't I tune in the TV and hey,stop on the first movie to watch,in case it might be a little interesting"?
    Well,to be honest,this one was.After 40 minutes or so,the plot-line was so familiar you wanted to sque... read moreeze each screenwriter who passed film school.
  • ileo
    April 12, 2007
    ileo
    A favorite.

View All Chances Are Reviews

Critic Reviews

Jonathan Rosenbaum
February 27, 2008
Jonathan Rosenbaum, Chicago Reader

A lot of fun. Full Review

Variety Staff
February 27, 2008
Variety Staff, Variety

A potentially charming premise yields only a handful of chuckles. Full Review

Janet Maslin
May 20, 2003
Janet Maslin, New York Times

Emile Ardolino, who directed Dirty Dancing, leaves the film hovering halfway between dewy romance and bedroom farce, but he displays little of the sharpness or comic timing needed for either one. Full Review

Roger Ebert
January 1, 2000
Roger Ebert, Chicago Sun-Times

The movie itself is surprisingly affecting, perhaps because Shepherd never goes for easy laughs but plays her character seriously. Full Review

Rita Kempley
January 1, 2000
Rita Kempley, Washington Post

As love interests go, Shepherd and Downey are about as hot as Ike and Mamie Eisenhower, though the apoplectic Downey does have his comedic moments. Full Review

Desson Thomson
January 1, 2000
Desson Thomson, Washington Post

O'Neal's performance, on the other hand, could incite angels to throw tomatoes from heaven. Full Review

February 27, 2008
TV Guide's Movie Guide

Among the best of the body-switch films that cluttered movie screens in the late 1980s. Full Review

Trevor Johnston
June 24, 2006
Trevor Johnston, Time Out

This went direct to video in Britain, but as latter-day Hollywood romantic comedies go, it has a bit more style than you might expect. Full Review

Frederic and Mary Ann Brussat
August 28, 2004
Frederic and Mary Ann Brussat, Spirituality and Practice

Chances Are is an entertaining romantic comedy. Full Review

Daniel Eagan
August 10, 2004
Daniel Eagan, Film Journal International

Dull romantic comedy

Critic ratings and reviews powered by RottenTomatoes.com

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Chances Are Trivia

  • "Mary, what are the chances of me and you getting together?" "I'd say about one in a million." ". . . So you're telling me there is a chance!"  Answer »
  • In the movie Chances Are, what career does Robert Downey Jr. go out to pursue once he graduates from College?   Answer »
  • In this 1989 movie, Christopher McDonald was reborn as Robert Downey Jr., who was attracted to his own daughter, Mary Stuart Masterson...  Answer »
  • From what movie is this line? Marty: If I show up at your door, chances are you did something to bring me there.   Answer »
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