VideoDetective.com
A Life Less Ordinary (1997)
Released By: Twentieth Century Fox Home Entertainment   Rating: R   In Theaters: N/A
Your video will start shortly...



More Videos:
Preview Details
User Reviews
Studio: Twentieth Century Fox Home Entertainment
Genre: Comedy
MPAA Rating: R
Director: Danny Boyle
Language: English
Official Website: N/A
Theatrical Release: N/A
Home Video Release: N/A
Cast: Holly Hunter, Ewan McGregor, Cameron Diaz
Published ID: 7223
UPC: 086162123016,
Plot: The acclaimed Trainspotting trio (director Danny Boyle, producer Andrew Macdonald, scripter John Hodge) reunited for this update of '30s screwball comedies and '40s fantasies, such as Here Comes Mr. Jordan(1941), Angel on My Shoulder(1946), Down to Earth(1947), and the 1946 Stairway to Heaven (co-directed by Macdonald's grandfather, Emeric Pressburger). Tossed together for $12 million, the result is a combination salad, a surreal salmagundi with an added animated sequence for lagniappe. In Heaven, Gabriel (Dan Hedaya) sends angels O'Reilly (Holly Hunter) and Jackson (Delroy Lindo) down to Earth to make two people fall in love. If the angels fail, they must remain on Earth. The target couple: well-to-do Celine (Cameron Diaz) and impoverished, aspiring novelist Robert (Ewan McGregor), a janitor at the corporation owned by her wealthy father, Naville (Ian Holm). Robert loses his job, kidnaps Celine, and the two retreat to a mountain hideout where they discuss splitting the ransom. O'Reilly and Jackson plan to make Robert and Celine love each other by putting them in jeopardy, so the two angels get hired on by Naville as bounty hunters. Although Robert and Celine argue, they also sing and dance together at a local karaoke bar, a scene evocative of both Dennis Potter's Karaoke and the memorable karaoke performance by Cameron Diaz in My Best Friend's Wedding. The angels make few gains, but when Jackson is on the brink of killing Robert, Celine comes to his rescue. Naville cancels Celine's credit card, so she robs a bank. Robert is shot during the robbery, and Celine has dentist Elliot (Stanley Tucci) remove the bullet. Robert awakens, finds the two together, and knocks out Elliot, prompting an argument that leads Celine and Robert to separate. Plagued by their own problems, the angels kidnap Celine themselves, and as complications mount, Gabriel eventually has God intervene. Filmed in Utah, although Hodge originally planned the story to take place in France and England. ~ Bhob Stewart, All Movie Guide
IDDateTimeTitleReviewHelpfulVotesTotalVotes
Good Stuff From The Director Of 'Slumdog Millionare'
Added 8/29/2009

Danny Boyle directs this anything but ordinary love story with tremendous visual energy and a well chosen soundtrack that alternates between Beck, Radiohead, Oasis, and Bobby Darin. Robert (Ewan McGregor) is a lowly janitor who dreams of writing a trashy novel about the illegitimate child of JFK and Marilyn Monroe. His life's ambition comes in the way of his job and his girlfriend and he loses them both in the same day. Pissed off and desperate, Robert decides to kill his former employer, a cold hearted man named Neville (Ian Holm). On the day of the attempted assassination, Neville is in the middle of cutting off his daughter Celine (Cameron Diaz) unless she agrees to marry a dentist (Stanley Tucci) who she has just shot in the head. When Robert bursts into this charged atmosphere security is called, shots are fired, Neville is wounded and Celine becomes a kidnap victim. A clueless Robert doesn't know the first thing about demanding a ransom or what to do next so he takes Celine to a secluded cabin and the two hide out there until he can come up with a plan. Celine isn't worried since she's been kidnapped twice before and she finds herself tutoring her helpless captor in the ways of extortion. Meanwhile, two Celestial beings (Holly Hunter and Delroy Lindo) have been sent to Earth to make sure that Robert and Celine fall in love. They will be denied re entry into Heaven if they fail in their mission. This was the one part of the story that I thought stopped the movie dead in it's tracks and wish would have been cut. Hunter and Lindo are fine actors but they don't bring anything to the film. The leads do quite well and don't need assistance. McGregor is likable in a way that I don't think he's ever been before and Diaz is cast somewhat against type (this early in her career) as a major witch who slowly opens up to Robert. By the time these two go to a bar and perform a killer karaoke version of Bobby Darin's 'Beyond The Sea', you, like Robert and Celine, will have fallen in love with the movie.
0 out of 0 people found this helpful.
A life less ordinary
Added 4/1/2009

I have seen this movie before and loved it. my only problem was finding this movie to buy which was no longer a problem when I found amazon. I dont buy movies unless I have already watched them.
0 out of 0 people found this helpful.
Cameron Diaz Must Have a Nudity Clause in Her Contract
Added 3/22/2009

With the phenomenon of "Slumdog Millionaire" this early effort by director Danny Boyle should be sought out. How do you nutshell this quirky gem? The best askewed movie that Christopher Walken doesn't appear in? A romantic pulp fiction? Whatever, it works. Key to the film's success is the dynamic chemistry between stars Ewan McGregor and Cameron Diaz. McGregor with his choice of offbeat roles, the "Star Wars" sleepwalking nonwithstanding, is one of our more interesting actors. Diaz betrays her classic movie star looks by continuing to seek out interesting material. I think this came out the same year as "Being John Malkovich". Boyle assembles a supporting cast (Holly Hunter, Delroy Lindo, Ian Holm, Dan Hedaya, Tony Shalhoub, Maury Chaykin) that Tarantino would die for. I was hooked when I saw Hunter in her celestial minidress and go-go boots. I found this in a used DVD bin for five bucks but it's well worth the full price.
0 out of 0 people found this helpful.
"Kidnapping For Beginners", Chapter One. Have you even asked for a ransom yet?
Added 11/23/2008

1997's oddball romantic comedy A Life Less Ordinary, stars the adorable Ewan McGregor as Robert who's just been fired from his terrible job and absentmindedly kidnapped his ex boss' beautiful daughter Celine(Cameron Diaz).

Of course, they don't know that fate has decided they must fall in love and they have two 'guardian angels' (Holly Hunter, Delroy Lindo) there to make it certain that they will fall for each other.

Overall a creative twist on the romantic comedy genre, backed by numerous, humorous quips by McGregor and fantastic scenes with Hunter and Lindo. The pace is a little slow, sometimes falling short, but I personally enjoyed every bit.

Not to mention anything that includes a little singing by McGregor isn't hard to sit through at all.

1 out of 1 people found this helpful.
Very pleased
Added 9/23/2008

Was very pleased with my purchase. All was handled in a timely manner and my dvd came to me in good condition. I will purchase from this seller again with no hesitation. Randy
0 out of 0 people found this helpful.
Good Stuff From The Director Of 'Slumdog Millionare'
Added 8/29/2009

Danny Boyle directs this anything but ordinary love story with tremendous visual energy and a well chosen soundtrack that alternates between Beck, Radiohead, Oasis, and Bobby Darin. Robert (Ewan McGregor) is a lowly janitor who dreams of writing a trashy novel about the illegitimate child of JFK and Marilyn Monroe. His life's ambition comes in the way of his job and his girlfriend and he loses them both in the same day. Pissed off and desperate, Robert decides to kill his former employer, a cold hearted man named Neville (Ian Holm). On the day of the attempted assassination, Neville is in the middle of cutting off his daughter Celine (Cameron Diaz) unless she agrees to marry a dentist (Stanley Tucci) who she has just shot in the head. When Robert bursts into this charged atmosphere security is called, shots are fired, Neville is wounded and Celine becomes a kidnap victim. A clueless Robert doesn't know the first thing about demanding a ransom or what to do next so he takes Celine to a secluded cabin and the two hide out there until he can come up with a plan. Celine isn't worried since she's been kidnapped twice before and she finds herself tutoring her helpless captor in the ways of extortion. Meanwhile, two Celestial beings (Holly Hunter and Delroy Lindo) have been sent to Earth to make sure that Robert and Celine fall in love. They will be denied re entry into Heaven if they fail in their mission. This was the one part of the story that I thought stopped the movie dead in it's tracks and wish would have been cut. Hunter and Lindo are fine actors but they don't bring anything to the film. The leads do quite well and don't need assistance. McGregor is likable in a way that I don't think he's ever been before and Diaz is cast somewhat against type (this early in her career) as a major witch who slowly opens up to Robert. By the time these two go to a bar and perform a killer karaoke version of Bobby Darin's 'Beyond The Sea', you, like Robert and Celine, will have fallen in love with the movie.
0 out of 0 people found this helpful.
A life less ordinary
Added 4/1/2009

I have seen this movie before and loved it. my only problem was finding this movie to buy which was no longer a problem when I found amazon. I dont buy movies unless I have already watched them.
0 out of 0 people found this helpful.
Cameron Diaz Must Have a Nudity Clause in Her Contract
Added 3/22/2009

With the phenomenon of "Slumdog Millionaire" this early effort by director Danny Boyle should be sought out. How do you nutshell this quirky gem? The best askewed movie that Christopher Walken doesn't appear in? A romantic pulp fiction? Whatever, it works. Key to the film's success is the dynamic chemistry between stars Ewan McGregor and Cameron Diaz. McGregor with his choice of offbeat roles, the "Star Wars" sleepwalking nonwithstanding, is one of our more interesting actors. Diaz betrays her classic movie star looks by continuing to seek out interesting material. I think this came out the same year as "Being John Malkovich". Boyle assembles a supporting cast (Holly Hunter, Delroy Lindo, Ian Holm, Dan Hedaya, Tony Shalhoub, Maury Chaykin) that Tarantino would die for. I was hooked when I saw Hunter in her celestial minidress and go-go boots. I found this in a used DVD bin for five bucks but it's well worth the full price.
0 out of 0 people found this helpful.
Photos


There are currently no photos.
Shopping
IDPriceImageUrlPurchaseUrlIdTypeBindingStore
VHS
$0.98 @ Amazon
VHS
$6.63 @ Amazon
DVD
$4.99 @ Amazon
DVD
$5.21 @ Amazon
DVD
$13.99 @ Amazon
Video On Demand
$2.99 @ Amazon