Skip to main content
Chances Are Movie Poster
Plot, Details & Awards

Chances Are

PG In Theaters 11/26/2001 , 108min.
Share this movie on

Plot & Details

Handsome young Washington attorney Louie Jeffries (Chris McDonald) has it all: a promising career, a beautiful wife, and a baby on the way. But after discovering a local judge is in cahoots with the Mob, Louie bites it in a car crash and finds himself in Heaven. Unsatisfied with the customer service he's receiving, Louie jumps the gun and gets himself reincarnated -- before being administered the magic injection that will remove his memories of his former life. For the next quarter-century, Louie's museum curator wife, Corinne (Cybill Shepherd), remains true to her husband's memory, ignoring the frustrated devotion of Louie's best friend, Philip Train (Ryan O'Neal). Meanwhile, Louie's soul grows up in the body of Alex Finch (Robert Downey Jr.), an aspiring journalist. Alex's memories of his life as Louie return after he becomes romantically involved with Miranda (Mary Stuart Masterson) -- the daughter he never got to meet. Soon, Alex/Louie is romancing his wife, spurning his daughter's advances, and frustrating Philip's attempts finally to woo Corinne. Written by Mystic Pizza scribes Perry and Randy Howze and directed by Emile Ardolino of Dirty Dancing fame, Chances Are didn't score as well at the box office as those earlier comedies. Its soundtrack, however, generated the hit Peter Cetera and Cher ballad "After All."
  • MPAA Rating: PG
  • Genre(s): Comedy,Fantasy,Romance
  • Run Time: 108min.
  • Theatrical Release Date: 11/26/2001
  • DVD Release Date: 04/14/1998
  • Distributor(s): Tri-Star Pictures
  • Director(s): Emile Ardolino
  • Starring: Cybill Shepherd , Robert Downey, Jr. , Ryan O'Neal , Mary Stuart Masterson , Christopher McDonald
  • Themes: Lovers Reunited,Therapy,Reincarnation
  • Tone: Wistful,Gentle,Humorous,Warm,Endearing,Clever,Light,Sweet
  • Keywords: afterlife,death,death-in-family,ghost,incest,love,possession,reincarnation,romance
  • Country of Origin: USA (03-10-1989)
  • Language: English

Awards

Academy Awards

Year Award CategoryCast & Crew Result
1989 Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences Best Song Tom Snow Nominated
1989 Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences Best Song Dean Pitchford Nominated

Golden Globes

Year Award CategoryCast & Crew Result
1989 Hollywood Foreign Press Association Best Original Song Tom Snow Nominated
1989 Hollywood Foreign Press Association Best Original Song Dean Pitchford Nominated
Netflix - Try for Free

Instantly watch TV episodes and movies via the Internet on your computer or TV. 1 month FREE!

Stay Connected with Moviefone