Critic Reviews
Return to Paradise (1998) Rank 3 Reviews
Expert Review Summary
based on (84) reviews
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Reviews by Score:
San Francisco Examiner (Barbara Shulgasser)
San Francisco Chronicle (Bob Graham)
San Francisco Chronicle (Bob Graham)
Rochester Democrat and Chronicle
Return to Paradiseis like a parlor game, in which the audience -- along with the central characters -- engages in a life-or-death version ...read the complete Return to Paradise movie review at Rochester Democrat and Chronicle
Film Threat, Hollywood's Indie Voice
Return to Paradise (based on the 1990 French film Force Majeure) is a complex, yet thought provoking film about three college grads, Sheriff (Vince Vaughn), Lewis (Joaquin Phoenix) and Tony (David Conrad), who befriend each other while vacationing ...read the complete Return to Paradise movie review at Film Threat, Hollywood's Indie Voice
Edward Johnson-Ott
Talk about ironic titles! Although the phrase "Return To Paradise" conjures up images of a tropical romance, the film is actually an intense, harrowing drama focusing on friendship, sacrifice, ethics and personal responsibility. Director Joseph Ruben ...read the complete Return to Paradise movie review at Edward Johnson-Ott
filmcritic.com (Christopher Null)
Surprisingly effective, if highly unlikely, drama of the soul and the conscience. If some guy you hardly knew was sentenced to hang in a Malaysian jail unless you went back and did 6 years in a third-world slammer, would you go?
Me neither! ...read the complete Return to Paradise movie review at filmcritic.com (Christopher Null)
Film Values/Family Values (H. Arthur Taussig)
A Guide to Current DVD (Aaron Beierle)
DVD Review:"Return To Paradise"
Teen Movie Critic (Vivian Rose)
Laramie Movie Scope (Robert Roten)
While I didn't much care for the way the movie ended, and the way a particular newspaper reporter was portrayed (the only really shallow, unthinking character in the film), and the way many scenes seemed poorly lit (or maybe the projector light was ...read the complete Return to Paradise movie review at Laramie Movie Scope (Robert Roten)
Globe and Mail (--)
IMDB.com
terrorism. But even in those blissful days there were ways in whichthey could get in some serious trouble. One of those situations servedas the basis for RETURN TO PARADISE, 1998 drama directed byJoseph Ruben.The film starts in Malaysia where three ...read the complete Return to Paradise movie review at IMDB.com
Steve Rhodes
The casting, with the exception of a weak performance by David Conrad as Tony, is strong enough to sustain a drama played more in the characters' heads than in their words. Subtle expressions on their faces tell much of the story.Vince Vaughn and ...read the complete Return to Paradise movie review at Steve Rhodes
Mr. Brown's Movies (Michael Dequina)
A largely intriguing drama whose by-the-numbers paces are elevated to a higher level by the strong acting ensemble. ...read the complete Return to Paradise movie review at Mr. Brown's Movies (Michael Dequina)
Movie Parables (Michael Elliott)
Palo Alto Weekly (Leonard Schwarz)
ReelViews (James Berardinelli)
The film's ending is a little unanticipated, and, although there are a few too many surprise
revelations in the last 20 minutes, they all work reasonably well to enhance, rather than diminish,
the central theme. Ultimately, while Return to ...read the complete Return to Paradise movie review at ReelViews (James Berardinelli)
Homer Yen
Sheriff and Tony find out about this after they are located by Lou's attorney, Beth (Anne Heche). With only 8 days left until Lou's execution, Beth explains to them that she has struck a deal with the Malaysian magistrate. If one or both goes back to ...read the complete Return to Paradise movie review at Homer Yen
David Wilcock
Return to Paradise falls into the dreaded trap: it's an 'okay' movie. That is, there is nothing particularly special about it, but nothing truly awful either. The performances are fine, and Anne Heche, after her 2.D characters featured in Six Days Seven ...read the complete Return to Paradise movie review at David Wilcock
SPLICEDwire (Rob Blackwelder)
Cinema in Focus (Denny Wayman and Hal Conklin)
Palo Alto Online (Leonard Schwarz)
Michael Dequina
Sheriff (Vince Vaughn), Lewis (Joaquin Phoenix), and Tony (David Conrad) meet and bond during a monthlong vacation in Malaysia, where they engage in all the pleasures "paradise" offers them: women, booze, and especially cheap hashish. When the month ...read the complete Return to Paradise movie review at Michael Dequina
ReelViews (James Berardinelli)
Consider this situation: what if, by surrendering yourself to foreign authorities and agreeing to spend three years in a prison hellhole, you could save the life of a friend? That admittedly- fascinating dilemma lies at the heart of Joseph Ruben's new mor ...read the complete Return to Paradise movie review at ReelViews (James Berardinelli)
artechock (Borissa Hellmann)
Reel Comments film review
Los Angeles Times (Kenneth Turan)
Film Blather (Eugene Novikov)
digitallyOBSESSED.com (Bob Mandel)
Chicago NewCityNet (Ray Pride)
Cineclub-Filmkritik
Montreal Film Journal (Kevin N. Laforest)
Prison Flicks Review
Dr. Daniel's Movie Emergency
Screen It! Entertainment Reviews for Parents
Advocate/Weekly Newspapers Online
Christian Spotlight on the Movies
filmdeculte.com (Nicolas Bardot)
Movie Magazine International
Sun Newspapers of Cleveland
Deseret News, Salt Lake City
Spirituality & Health (Frederic and Mary Ann Brussat)
Philadelphia City Paper (Sam Adams)
Images (Gary Johnson)
Anchorage Press (Erick Hayden)
Alex Fung
The moral dilemma in RETURN TO PARADISE looms everpresent throughout the picture's middle hour, inextricably tightening a noose around its protagonist's neck. More ethical examination than suspenseful potboiler its sparse location usage and reliance ...read the complete Return to Paradise movie review at Alex Fung
Cinematter (Matt Williams)
Return to Paradise is a drama based entirely on a key ethical dilemma. The dilemma itself is a potentially fascinating one, but the film doesn't fully live up to its potential. Sheriff, Tony and Lewis (Vince Vaughn, David Conrad and Joaquin Phoenix) are ...read the complete Return to Paradise movie review at Cinematter (Matt Williams)
from $6.20 (11 sellers)
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