Unconditional Love

Kathy Bates is wonderful in portraying this character, a middle aged woman dumped by her husband who is feeling sour and dissatisfied with his own life. She struggles to find joy again, makes new friends and is happy again without him.

This is one of those movies you return to when you'd like a little break from all the nonsense going on. It's sweet, unpretentious and there are some delightful surprise appearances throughout. I first saw it many, many years ago and it's one of the few movies that I will watch again. There's nothing in it to offend anyone and I've recommended it to all of my friends.

How can you go wrong with a musical murder mystery comedy all about love? Great cast, great weirdness, great execution. Love this movie.

I don't know why I love this movie so much; but I do.Kathy Bates is such a phenomenal actor; she embodies whatever she plays and you forget you're watching an actress and believing you're witnessing a real person living their life instead of a performance. Of course, the supporting cast is absolutely stellar as well.The plotline plays out a little slow in some parts, but it is so fun to lose yourself in this adventure, it doesn't matter. After streaming the film at least once a year, I just went ahead and bought it so I could have access to it whenever I get a fix.It is one of those movies I like to revisit, because I love the characters and their dynamics with one another. I find myself missing them if too much time as passed.

Laugh out loud funny, what a hidden gen this movie is. Kathy Bates plays a middle aged woman whose son has flown the nest and her boring husband basically ignores her. Her days are filled with romantic thoughts and fantasies about an Elvis-like figure who she adores and worships. Imagine her shock and grief when he is suddenly killed! Deciding to step out of the box and embark on the adventure of a lifetime, she hops on a plane and has the plan to attend his funeral service. Once she arrives in the little English town, she visits his home and sees a gathering of young me. As the silliness continues, it unfolds that her beloved was a closeted gay man with a younger lover who has, over the years, grown very bitter with the older "frumps" that his lover has been crooning to. Through a series of events, these two unlikely characters form a bond and return to the states to hunt down his killer. A super fun comedy that was truly entertaining.

A really nice little movie...not an award winner, but nice. I actually bought it because I heard Barry Manilow was in it, and everyone who knows me knows I am a huge fan. That said, The movie begins with Max Beasley (Dan Aykroyd) telling his wife Grace (Kathy Bates) that he is leaving her (after 25 years) because he just does not want to be married anymore. Meanwhile, Grace is always daydreaming over her music idol, singer Victor Fox (Jonathan Pryce). Of course she is devastated over Max's decision to leave, and she is also devastated to hear of Victor's untimely death when he comes to her home town, Chicago. Victor is to be buried in England. Grace decides to stop feeling sorry for herself about Max, and do something to get on with her life. Soooooo, off she goes to England to attend Victor's funeral, where she finds herself in quite an adventure and finds a very unusual friendship.Grace begins to explore what unconditional love means as she realizes she can make her own way in iife. It's a movie about the courage to move forward, and about being one's authentic self, about caring and about helping friends, about grieving, and about having a few laughs too. It's also about change, believing in oneself, and taking chances. It is a very enjoyable film. Several guest stars appear in this film, including Julie Andrews, Sally Jessy Raphael, Lynn Redgrave, and.........BARRY MANILOW! Has a cute "feel-good" ending, too.

Only the timidity of the studios could explain how this movie landed on the shelves without even a mention - It's up to word of mouth to save it. And it's certainly worth saving. Nobody does the "awakening matron" like Kathy Bates (see "Fried Green Tomatoes"), and her Grace Beasley is a delight as she finds her backbone and her voice. She needs it. Her daughter-in-law (Meredith Eaton) is an acid-tongued dwarf with no inhibitions, and Dan Ackroyd is the wettest blanket this side of the Johnstown flood. After being dumped by her husband, patronized by her son, and deprived of her grandson, Grace has no choice but to look after herself. Grace goes to England to attend the funeral of her idol - Jonathan Pryce in fine voice and having the time of his life - and meets his gay lover, Rupert Everett. After swallowing her shock, the unlikely pair returns to Chicago to track down Pryce's murderer. The performances are all fine, the pace is feathery, the music easy on the ear...It's all whimsical and preposterous, and the kind of movie that will have you laughing out loud when you're sitting home alone...The ultimate test of a comedy. "Unconditional Love" passes the test. Enjoy it and spread the word.

I haven't even finished watching the movie but I couldn't wait to review it. If you're a mature woman who loves to listen to Barry Manilow, Elvis, or Julio Iglesias, or all three, you will 'get' this movie and laugh the whole way through.For some unfathomable reason (Maybe because most critics are males who prefer dark, male-dominated action/thriller/crime/car chase flicks) Rotten Tomatoes gave this light-hearted satire a 14% approval. First of all, no movie with Kathy Bates EVER deserves 14%. That's absurd. So I was gratified to see Amazon reviewers have given it a much deserved 78% rating.The airplane scene with Julie Andrews alone is worth the price of renting this. Enjoy!

Love this quirky movie. Lost my copy, glad to find this one. Good condition. Quick delivery.

For those of us, and I am sure that I am not alone in this, this is a film that will help us believe that our dreams and aspirations are attainable as long as we don't give up on ourselves. Cathy Bates brilliant portrayal of the housewife with the husband who doesn't want to be married anymore, and the seemingly unrealistic desire to sing in public (even if it does appear to be with her dead hero) made be laugh and cry at the same time. Rupert Everett is, as ever, totally gorgeous and apparently unattainable to us mortal women. He picks up his role from 'My Best Friends Wedding' with ease and plays the boyfriend that no-one must know about with sensitivity combined with a humour that is as poignant as it is funny. The addition of Maudie (the dwarf) with her in-your-face IM DIFFERENT SO WHAT attitude is the aenithesis the other two need.I loved this film from beginning to end, and it will help me to keep in my heart my dream of singing with Barry Manilow one day.If Grace can do it, so can I.

This movie I discovered more than 10 years ago and revisit regularly. It never fails to delight and entertain. Directed by Australian writer/director PJ Hogan (Muriel's Wedding, My Best Friend's Wedding, Peter Pan) this movie is idiosyncratic and very funny - and not everyone gets it. I've given numerous copies of the DVD to friends over the years and coerced others into viewing it - and without exception, my friends have loved it. And the stellar cast headed by Kathy Bates, Rupert Everett and Jonathan Pryce - and very ably supported by Lynn Redgrave, Richard Briers, Meredith Eaton (in a scene stealing performance), Dan Akroyd, Peter Sarsgaard, Stephanie Beacham and Julie Andrews - look as though they enjoyed making this movie as much as I have enjoyed viewing it. If you are a fan of the British version of Death at a Funeral you should enjoy this one too. Give it a go!

Excellente comédie sur l'amour, la dévotion. Très bons acteurs. Expédition rapide.

Great company, delivered on time. fab condition. I wasn't really expecting too much from this film, cos it was such a bargain, thought I'd give it a chance. But I actually REALLY LOVED THIS FILM. I love Kathy Bates anyway, cos she's just wonderful and constantly and frustratingly underrated and in this film she is heartbreakingly wonderful (in my opinion). (the only other actress this good at breaking my heart is Tyne Daly in Judging Amy !) I love love love this film. (the 'dwarf" - you may recognise from Boston Legal is distractingly annoying,and as much as I admire her tinacity, she's just too annoyingly american kinda OTT) I may not watch this film 50 times, but it is certainly not one that i will pack off to the charity shop after one disappointed watch as so often happens.HIGHLY RECOMMEND.