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17 of 18 found the following review helpful:
AKA: "Forever Lulu"....Great Cast....Emotional RideFeb 22, 2004
By L. Shirley
"Laurie's Boomer Views"
This review refers to the DVD edition of "Along For The Ride"...
You may have already seen this film and not even realize it. When I first viewed it on cable TV it was titled "Forever Lulu". I came across "Along For The Ride" at my local video store and soon discovered it was the same film.
The story is multifaceted. It is dramatic and sad, funny and poignant. The characters are very human, and you can't help getting invovled with their intense and emotional relationships.
There was a time, many years ago when Ben and Lulu(Patrick Swayze/Melanie Griffith) were deeply in love. Their relationship ended though, as Lulu's state of mind became very fragile and a young Ben could not cope. Years later, Lulu, still not entirely well, calls a now married Ben with some shocking news. They have a son, now a teenager, and they must go to him. Ben out of a sense of responsiblity, and guilt at leaving her years before, embarks on a wild ride across country with Lulu.
Ben and his wife Claire(Penelope Ann Miller) though, were still suffering from a tragic loss in their own lives, and all was not right with them.Claire refuses to watch her marriage disintergrate, while Lulu tries to rekindle an old love.Each of the three must deal with their own demons, and with each other, as the relationships bring out the worst and the best of them.
Directed and written by John Kaye, the story and the characters develop nicely as we go "Along For The Ride". In what could have turned out to be like an episode from the Jerry Springer show, this film comes across as a very human look at these relationships and mental illness. Swayze, Griffith and Miller portray these complex characters wonderfully. A great supporting cast includes Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Richard Schiff, Annnie Corley, Steven Bauer and a charming cameo by Michael J.Pollard.
The DVD(mine has Third Row Center shown as the studio of release, although it appears to be the same edition as the one here)has a nice picture, in full frame, with good color.The sound is very good.There is a theatrical trailer included.
This is one of those films, you may want to rent first and check it out. I enjoyed it enough to watch it often, but it may not be for everybody. Some scenes(an attempted suicide) may even be a bit disturbing to some. It is rated R for langauge and brief nudity.
Check it out....Laurie
also recommended:
Luzhin Defence (Full Screen Version)
Don't Bother to Knock [VHS]
The Things of Life [Region 2]
11 of 11 found the following review helpful:
 Along for a wonderful experienceNov 29, 2003
By Joseph King
"Rainbowschase"
This DVD of the cable film from STARZ, Forever Lulu, received terrible reviews but I think it is an extraordinary story of two people, Lulu (Melanie Griffith) and Ben (Patrick Swayze) who shared a summer romance and tragically experience the descent of Lulu (Melanie Griffith) into mental illness. Sixteen years later, escaping from a halfway mental health home, Lulu sneaks away to see Ben and to his surprise tells him about a son he does not know he has. They drive to Wisconsin to see the boy while Ben's wife, Helen (Penelope Ann Miller), threatened by this intrusion into their marriage and unresolved feelings over the death of their young son, follows them to Wisconsin and after an emotional meeting of the three, each struggles to resolve their conflicting feelings and unsettling switches of roles. The three all travel to see the son who initially rejects his new found parents but comes to understand why their relationship happened and why they could not be a family. Finally, Ben and Lulu realize they will always be in love with each other but can only remain a memory. Wonderful performances and a real examination of the discrimination of those with mental illness but the power of Griffith to overcome the stigma, "(to son after he apologizes for calling his mother crazy) I am crazy, it makes it easier that way." This film, while not based on a strong script, works on many levels making you feel the pathos of the relationship between these characters stumbling to deal with their feelings and the circumstances of their lives. The score is worth the price of the DVD, ("Say Goodbye", written by Serge Colbert, Mark Portman & Alan Rich and performed by Lauren Kinkade). Get out a box of Kleenix if you like to drain your sinuses.
8 of 8 found the following review helpful:
Surprisingly Heartwarming Story, but lack of DVD featuresMay 22, 2004
By Otto Yuen
The production of this DVD is quite cheap. You find only trailer and the moive, not even subtitles. Yet, the story is quite touchy. It may spare you a tear at the end of the film. Both Patrick Swayze and Melanie Griffith gives their great performing. Overall the movie is very heartwarming, much better than I expected.
7 of 7 found the following review helpful:
"Say Goodbye"Oct 01, 2002
By Lauren Kinkade
Hello everyone... my name is Lauren Kinkade, and I was the singer you heard on the end credit song "Say Goodbye". Thank you all for your kind words!! "Say Goodbye" is a great song, and hopefully someday, it will be released. But as of right now, the only place you will find it is on the DVD or VHS.Thanks again everyone!
9 of 11 found the following review helpful:
Nice acting, great songApr 02, 2002
Don't expect a lot from this DVD, it offers just two buttons for you to touch: "View trailer" and "Play movie". No scene access, no special features. Yea, that's sad. But the film itself makes up to what's missing on the DVD. Melanie Griffith gives a superb performance as a schizophrenic ex-girlfriend and distressed mother. You'll love the nostalgic scene of her and Patrick Swayze, from different corners of the world, watching "The Hustler" on TV and getting lost in their memories. And the fabulous musical score is definitely some "bonus material" to this romantic drama -- especially the last song ("Say Goodbye", written by Serge Colbert, Mark Portman & Alan Rich and performed by Lauren Kinkade). That melody, along with Griffith's childlike smile, will surely capture your heart.
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