Forces of Nature

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Forces of Nature

PG-13,

1999,

1h 44m,

Romance/

Comedy/

Drama

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Watchlist

Watchlist

45%

58 Reviews

Tomatometer

34%

50,000+ Ratings

Popcornmeter

45%

Tomatometer

58 Reviews

34%

Popcornmeter

50,000+ Ratings

All Ben Holmes (Ben Affleck) wants to do is make it from New York to Savannah, Ga., in time for his wedding. When a seagull and a hurricane ruin any chance he has of flying there, Holmes reluctantly joins the quirky Sarah Lewis (Sandra Bullock) in a rental car for a road trip back to his waiting bride-to-be, Bridget Cahill (Maura Tierney). But nature seems to conspire against his every attempt at a timely return -- and in the meantime, he finds himself growing closer to Sarah.

Critics Consensus

A distinct lack of chemistry between Ben Affleck and Sandra Bullock, coupled with a screwball sensibility that's a touch too screwy, scupper Forces of Nature's modest ambition to serve up romantic charm.

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Richard Corliss

TIME Magazine

Jun 14, 2009

DreamWorks' first reprehensible fiasco.

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Joe Leydon

Variety

Mar 26, 2009

An extremely enjoyable neo-screwball comedy about attractive opposites on the road.

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Peter Travers

Rolling Stone

May 11, 2001

The cinematic equivalent of Styrofoam: a weightless romantic comedy of synthetic feelings.

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Marya E. Gates

Cool People Have Feelings, Too. (Substack)

Feb 12, 2024

Affleck and Bullock have great chemistry, Hughes has a flare for crafting images that feel almost operatic, and frankly I love that the film does not have a typical Hollywood ending.

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Tracy Moore

Common Sense Media

Sep 23, 2014

2/5

Over-the-top rom-com about marriage has dark, mature themes.

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Maitland McDonagh

TV Guide

Jun 14, 2009

2.5/4

Make no mistake: This slackly paced picture doesn't gel. But it so consistently undermines the pastel-pretty conventions that currently rule the genre that some sneaky admiration is in order.

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Jan 8, 2019

What a bomb. Did they know how horrible this movie was when they were making it? Weird.

Albus W

Feb 11, 2018

Only watched it through to the end because Bullock is fit. Affleck chose the wrong sort.

Albus G

Nov 2, 2017

Absolutley enjoying and funny movie. One of my favorite romantic comedies. Sandra is amazing as always. Ben is .. Well. Ben. But Sandra is so amazing you can barely notice Ben... And Maura is awsome too. My favorite scene is when her ex sings "against all odds". Very funny scene.

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Theodore M

Jul 11, 2017

At first I thought this was going to be a guilty pleasure, if I liked it. But I actually really like it, I think it's very unique, and I think it subverted the typical storyline/story line it had very well.

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Theodore P

Apr 26, 2017

Opposites take a forced road trip together (hey, that's the plot to It Happened One Night!) ... will they or won't they fall in love? The idea is here, but the chemistry isn't, though not for lack of trying. Affleck plays the "normal but boring" everyman and Bullock is the kook/free spirit who teaches him about living life. Close, but no cigar.

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Poe P

Mar 31, 2017

A charming romantic comedy with two of Hollywood's biggest stars. Bullock and Affleck don't really have good chemistry together but they play their roles well enough to make me watch it till the end.

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Bronwen Hughes

Director

Sandra Bullock

Sarah Lewis

Ben Affleck

Ben Holmes

Maura Tierney

Bridget

Steve Zahn

Alan

Blythe Danner

Virginia

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Synopsis

All Ben Holmes (Ben Affleck) wants to do is make it from New York to Savannah, Ga., in time for his wedding. When a seagull and a hurricane ruin any chance he has of flying there, Holmes reluctantly joins the quirky Sarah Lewis (Sandra Bullock) in a rental car for a road trip back to his waiting bride-to-be, Bridget Cahill (Maura Tierney). But nature seems to conspire against his every attempt at a timely return -- and in the meantime, he finds himself growing closer to Sarah.

Director: Bronwen Hughes
Producer: Susan Arnold, Ian Bryce, Donna Arkoff Roth
Screenwriter: Marc Lawrence
Distributor: DreamWorks SKG
Production Co: DreamWorks SKG, Roth-Arnold Productions
Rating: PG-13
Genre: Romance, Comedy, Drama
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Mar 19, 1999, Wide
Release Date (Streaming): May 1, 2012
Box Office (Gross USA): $52.9M
Runtime: 1h 44m
Sound Mix: SDDS, Dolby Digital, DTS, Surround

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