The healing power of love and laughter - MY FAVORITE MOVIE By Amy Lee

Joe Pendleton and Betty Logan’s eyes meet and instantly, sparks fly with Joe uttering: “Do not be afraid. There is always a plan. There is always a reason for everything.” This is my favorite scene in the classic romantic comedy Heaven Can Wait.

Whether you believe in reincarnation or not, Heaven Can Wait, a 1978 remake of the movie Here Comes Mr. Jordan, will surely amuse you and catch your attention. Written, directed and produced by Warren Beatty, Heaven Can Wait was both a critical and commercial success. The movie which catapulted Beatty back to being a major Hollywood box-office star after a long drought was nominated at the Oscars in almost all the major categories including Best Picture.

Joe (Beatty) is a quarterback who was supposed to lead the Los Angeles Rams to championship in the Super Bowl. Bad luck awaits him when he meets an accident while biking. More bad luck hounds him when a neophyte overeager angel fetches his soul even though he is not yet actually dead. While waiting to enter heaven, Joe thinks that he is just in a dream when a senior representative from heaven tells him that taking him is after all a mistake and he is to be sent back to earth. Joe’s return is a bit too late because he discovers that his body is already cremated.

His dilemma is to find an “appropriate” body where his soul can enter. He finally decides to be industrialist Leo Farnsworth upon setting his eyes on the lovely Becky Logan (Julie Christie), an environmental activist opposing his latest project. Farnsworth’s wife (Dyan Cannon) and his assistant Tony Abbott (Charles Grodin) conspire to kill Farnsworth because apart from being lovers, they also want to take over his business empire. Upon seeing Farnsworth “alive”, both Julie and Tony are shocked and confused at the same time.

Since Leo is really Joe, the athlete, the whole household is perplexed with his strange behavior. He easily accedes to Betty Logan’s demands and persuades his board of directors to have a change of heart on their company’s hard line policy. He buys the Los Angeles Rams and is able to convince his former fitness trainer that he is indeed Joe Pendleton and that he needs to be fit again for the game. Just as everything seems to be going great as far as Joe’s lovelife and career in sports are concerned, he finds out that the set-up is only temporary and he is killed for the second time by his assistant.

On the day of Farnsworth’s death, the Los Angeles Rams ironically wins the Super Bowl because Joe this time entered the body of one of the team members and delivered the winning point.

So as not to experience the difficulties that came about when he was Leo Farnsworth, Joe’s memories are completely erased and he now assumes the persona of the star athlete. Fate is still kind, Joe and Betty meet and fall in love again, and this time live happily ever after.

This is a feel good movie that you would never get tired watching over and over again because it is both humorous and touching at the same time. The cast led by Beatty delivered wonderful performances. Warren’s scenes with Dyan and Charles were especially funny and executed well. The screenplay was witty and entertaining.

Even though the movie is more of a love story, it still made me realize that life is indeed short but most valuable. Therefore, whatever your passion or dream is, you should not waste any more precious time and just do it or it might be too late. In doing what you love best, you may want to spend it if possible with your loved ones. Whatever happens though, there is no need to fear because there is always a master plan by a Supreme Being. Meanwhile, the best that we mortals can do is to make the most out of life.