Quartile rating: 6.5/10 · 1 rating
It took a lot of cajoling to get Bob, a recently widowed architect, to go on a blind date at a quirky Irish-Italian eatery. Once there, he's smitten instantly not with his date but with the sharp-witted waitress. Everything seems to be going great until an unbelievable truth is revealed, one that could easily break both of their hearts for good.
Return to Me is a warmly received romantic comedy with a genuinely affecting hook — the woman Bob falls for carries his late wife's donated heart — that elevates it above formula. The ensemble cast (David Duchovny, Minnie Driver, Carroll O'Connor, Robert Loggia) delivers charming, naturalistic performances, though none are especially stretching. Cinematography is pleasant but unremarkable, functional rather than distinctive. The premise is novel enough to stand apart from standard rom-coms, and director Bonnie Hunt wrings real emotional texture from the concept, but the execution hews fairly close to genre conventions. The ending is satisfying and emotionally earned if predictable.