Just Like Heaven
By Cynthia Fuchs,
Common Sense Media Reviewer
Common Sense Media Reviewers
Quirky romantic comedy with a dark-ish premise.

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What you will—and won't—find in this movie.
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Based on 4 parent reviews
Don’t ban stories just don’t be afraid to call attention to stereotypes in books or film with the kids.
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Very cute romantic comedy
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What's the Story?
Workaholic doctor Elizabeth (Reese Witherspoon) is slightly yearning; her friends have relationships, her sister Abby (Dina Waters) has two adorable daughters, and yet, Elizabeth can't seem to develop a life outside work. One night, she crashes into a truck; shortly afterwards, her apartment is rented by lonely, sensitive, landscape designer David (Mark Ruffalo). The only issue for this perfect guy is that he's mourning a lost wife, and so meeting the seeming ghost of Elizabeth gives him a built-in friend. As time goes on it becomes clear that they're made for each other, save for the small obstacle of her seeming deadness. David gets encouragement when an occult bookstore clerk (Jon Heder) suggests that for a spirit, she's very "alive," that is, caught between death and life.
Is It Any Good?
JUST LIKE HEAVEN is a Sleeping Beauty story refashioned to combine upbeat rom-com conventions and ER-lite medical-ethical dilemmas. It poses a grim question: Should a very nice young mother of two pull the life-support plug on her sister after three months of coma? It's a preposterous idea to cram into a romance.
And, while director Mark Waters is working with the completely charming and mostly convincing Reese Witherspoon and Mark Ruffalo, even this talented trio can't make this creepy perfect-ghost-girl idea go away. That doesn't mean they don't try.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about the relationship between the sisters, as this creates the eventual dilemma/climax, as to whether Elizabeth should be taken off life support. How are they both loving and competitive, jealous and supportive? You might also consider the film's use of romantic comedy structures (boy meets girl, etc.) in relation to the ethical and even spiritual questions it poses, concerning life, death, and grief.
Movie Details
- In theaters: September 16, 2005
- On DVD or streaming: February 7, 2006
- Cast: Dina Waters, Mark Ruffalo, Reese Witherspoon
- Director: Mark Waters
- Studio: DreamWorks
- Genre: Comedy
- Run time: 95 minutes
- MPAA rating: PG-13
- MPAA explanation: some sexual content
- Last updated: June 1, 2023
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