Return to Paradise

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Return to Paradise

R,

1998,

1h 49m,

Drama

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Watchlist

Watchlist

72%

43 Reviews

Tomatometer

74%

5,000+ Ratings

Popcornmeter

72%

Tomatometer

43 Reviews

74%

Popcornmeter

5,000+ Ratings

Lewis (Joaquin Phoenix), Sheriff (Vince Vaughn) and Tony (David Conrad) are three friends vacationing in Malaysia. Sheriff and Tony eventually leave to pursue careers in New York, but Lewis stays behind to work with orangutans. Two years later, Sheriff and Tony learn that, because of their past actions, Lewis has been arrested for drug possession. With Lewis facing a death sentence, the friends are left with a difficult decision: return to Malaysia and split Lewis' sentence, or let him die.

Geoff Andrew

Time Out

Jun 24, 2006

It's a painful prospect, to be sure, and Sheriff, in particular, insists he's no hero, but the next hour or so of handwringing conjures little suspense.

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Peter Travers

Rolling Stone

May 11, 2001

What if director Joseph Ruben didn't resort to B-movie suspense tricks? What if the fine cast wasn't saddled with a shamelessly contrived script by Wesley Strick and Bruce Robinson?

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Kenneth Turan

Los Angeles Times

Feb 14, 2001

2.5/5

If it's to be experienced at all, Return to Paradise is best seen as a lively piece of pulp, not a profound exploration of the vagaries of the human soul.

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Maitland McDonagh

TV Guide

Oct 4, 2009

2.5/4

Despite solid performances from the leads, it comes shrouded in a heavy cloud of ethics-class complications that makes it feel like a "dilemma of the week" TV movie.

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Anthony Miele

Film Threat

Dec 6, 2005

3.5/5

Vince Vaughn finally gives a performance putting him in the serious actor category, Joaquin Phoenix is notable and Anne Heche is believable as the impassioned attorney fighting for the life of her client.

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Michael E. Grost

Classic Film and Television

Jan 24, 2005

Involving drama about our responsibilities to others.

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Joseph Ruben

Director

Vince Vaughn

John "Sheriff" Volgecherev

Anne Heche

Beth Eastern

Joaquin Phoenix

Lewis McBride

David Conrad

Tony Croft

Vera Farmiga

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Synopsis

Lewis (Joaquin Phoenix), Sheriff (Vince Vaughn) and Tony (David Conrad) are three friends vacationing in Malaysia. Sheriff and Tony eventually leave to pursue careers in New York, but Lewis stays behind to work with orangutans. Two years later, Sheriff and Tony learn that, because of their past actions, Lewis has been arrested for drug possession. With Lewis facing a death sentence, the friends are left with a difficult decision: return to Malaysia and split Lewis' sentence, or let him die.

Director: Joseph Ruben
Producer: Steve Golin, Alain Bernheim
Screenwriter: Pierre Jolivet, Olivier Schatzky, Wesley Strick, Bruce Robinson
Distributor: United Artists, MCA/Universal Pictures [us], Polygram
Production Co: PolyGram Filmed Entertainment
Rating: R
Genre: Drama
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Aug 10, 1998, Original
Release Date (Streaming): Sep 10, 2015
Box Office (Gross USA): $8.3M
Runtime: 1h 49m
Sound Mix: Surround, Dolby Digital
Aspect Ratio: Scope (2.35:1)

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