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Parents' Guide to

When a Man Loves a Woman

By Renee Longstreet, Common Sense Media Reviewer

age 16+

Exceptional tale of a family in crisis; cursing, alcoholism.

Movie R 1994 125 minutes
When a Man Loves a Woman Poster Image

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What's the Story?

Michael (Andy Garcia) and Alice (Meg Ryan) Green and their two little daughters are living an idyllic San Francisco life in WHEN A MAN LOVES A WOMAN until the idyll is shattered by Alice's drinking. Alice kept it hidden -- mostly. Michael didn't see it, or didn't want to see it. Sometimes a child knew but couldn't give voice to her fear. After a series of troubling episodes -- frightening nights when Alice forgets to come home, erratic behavior, several moments during which the children are in jeopardy, and one final devastating accident -- reality can no longer be denied. Michael takes charge; Alice is contrite and wants to get sober. A stint in rehab suggests that the crisis has been averted, but the deeply felt issues for each of them are far from resolved. Each struggles to take responsibility for a share of the heartbreak; each takes the proverbial two steps forward and one step back. Still, their intense love for one another holds them together -- until it doesn't. What's finally at stake for the Greens is the survival of their fragile relationship and the very fabric of their family.

Is It Any Good?

Our review:
Parents say: Not yet rated
Kids say: Not yet rated

Telling a timeless story, this film is a heartrending blend of solid writing, insightful direction, and wonderful performances, plus an all-around superior production. While much of the resolution in When a Man Loves a Woman relies on the well-worn doctrine of Alcoholics Anonymous and Al-Anon, the emotionality of that resolution is powerful and inspiring. So inspiring, in fact, that one can forgive the few missteps (a few pat scenes with Alice's parents, an ending that takes place in an awkward setting, and the fact that it's somewhat long). Both Meg Ryan and Andy Garcia are in top form. Ryan proves she can be more than America's sweetheart; in turn, she's vulnerable, appalling, and formidable. Garcia's arc is played out simply but devastatingly. The two young children, played by Tina Majorino and Mae Whitman (both currently respected adult working actresses) are sheer magic. Interesting to note is that the film is one of Philip Seymour Hoffman's earliest roles and that former Saturday Night Live comic, now Minnesota senator, Al Franken, was a co-writer of the script (with award-winner Ron Bass); he also shows up as Garcia's co-pilot. Highly recommended for thoughtful teens and up.

Talk to Your Kids About ...

  • Families can talk about how When a Man Loves a Womanstands in stark contrast to many films in which drinking and drunkenness are meant to elicit laughs from teens and young adults or are presented as being "cool." Why is it important for those same teens and young adults to see films like this one, which shows hard truths about alcoholism?

  • A key production element in this movie is the set decoration in the Green family home. Did you notice how the order and/or disorder in the house changed along with the emotional events in the story? How do such filmmaking skills enrich the texture of a movie?

  • This film is told from the viewpoints of three of the characters: Michael, Alice, and Jess. How did your sympathies change, if at all, depending upon whose viewpoint the film was depicting?

  • How crucial to the success of the film was the performance by Tina Majorino as 8-year-old Jess? Were you surprised by the abilities of such a young actress?

  • How do the characters in When a Man Loves a Woman demonstrate perseverance? Why is this an important character strength?

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