Mr. Destiny (MOVIE REVIEW)

Official poster for Mr. Destiny, starring Jim Belushi.
(pic - Touchstone Pictures)

Director: James Orr. 

Producers/Writers: James Orr and Jim Cruickshank.

Main Cast:

Jim Belushi - Larry Joseph Burrows

Linda Hamilton - Ellen Jane Burrows/Robertson

Michael Caine - Mike the Bartender/Mr. Destiny

Jon Lovitz - Clip Metzler

Hart Bochner - Niles Pender

Bill McClutcheon - Leo Hansen

Rene Russo - Cindy Jo Bumpers/Burrows

Courteney Cox - Jewel Jagger

Rene Russo in lingerie: very seductive!
(Pic - Touchstone Pictures)

Release Date: October 12, 1990 (United States) / March 29, 1991 (Brazil)

Running Time: 110 min. 

Budget / Box Office: U$20 million / U$15,4 million (box office bomb)

Plot Summary: "Mr Destiny" consists in many of its comic and dramatic misadventures of Larry Burrows (Jim Belushi, from the series According to Jim), now with 35 years old. He blames all his life problems to a high school baseball championship defeat during his 15th birthday. 

One night Larry meets a bartender called Mike (Michael Caine, from Miss Congeniality and many other movies), who is also a guardian angel, and Larry's wish is granted: he is now rich and married with Cindy Jo Bumpers (Rene Russo), Leo (Bill McClutcheon)'s sexy daughter. In the beginning, Larry think his life is perfect, but soon he begins to miss his friend Clip Metzler (Jon Lovitz) and his wife in another life, Ellen Jane (Linda Hamilton), and also he makes an enemy in his alternate life, Jewel Jagger (Courteney Cox, from Friends). 

Jim Belushi and Rene Russo in action.
(pic - Touchstone Pictures)

After discovering that Larry has agreed to union demands, Niles takes revenge, by telling both Cindy Jo and Jewel of Larry's dinner date with Ellen. He then plots to kill Larry at the office that night. However, company owner Leo Hansen arrives to deliver a note to Larry, announcing his termination at Cindy Jo's request, and Niles kills him by mistake. Discovering the note, Niles calls the police who attempt to arrest Larry for Leo's murder. Larry escapes while jealous Jewel creates pandemonium outside in her attempts to shoot him (and shoots out a number of police cars in the process), leading to a police chase. Larry is eventually cornered in a dark alley, but the pink glow of "The Universal Joint" comes on and he runs into the bar. Unable to find Mike, Larry attempts to make the "Spilt Milk" himself, the ingredients clearly aged.

The flashing lights of the police cars appear and Larry surrenders, but instead of cops, a tow truck driver named Duncan enters (the police car lights now tow truck lights). Confused at first, Larry sees Mike back behind the bar and realizes he's back in his old life. Larry thanks Mike for everything and, upon exiting the bar, suddenly realizes that the deal with the Japanese investors is happening shortly. Driven by Duncan to company headquarters, Larry barges into the boardroom, decks Niles and exposes his scheme just as Leo is about to sign the deal.

Thinking everyone forgot his birthday, Larry returns home (which still has the muddy driveway and lawn) to a surprise party with his family and friends in attendance. Soon after, Cindy Jo and her husband Jackie Earle (Jay O. Sanders), the company president, arrive. Jackie offers Niles' job to Larry, plus a company car, a new Mercedes, and he accepts.

Back in the past, young Larry is about to leave the stadium, still upset about the loss, when he's approached by a mysterious stranger (Mike) who reassures him that everything will be all right. Larry thanks him for the reassurance, but walks off wondering who Mike thinks he's kidding.

Jim Belushi and Rene Russo in action. 
(pic - Touchstone Pictures)

Fun Facts: 

• The baseball scenes in this movie were filmed in Richard J Reynolds High School, localized in Winston-Salem, North Carolina. 
• This is the second sports movie in which Rene Russo participated. The others were Major League (1989) (baseball), Tin Cup (1996) (golf), and Two for the Money (2005) (rugby). 
• The mansion in Larry Burrows lives in the alternative life was used before in Clue (1985).
• Jim Belushi played a baseball fan later in Taking Care of Business (1990). And also the first time in which he played along with a former model (now actress), later he played along with actress (former model) Kelly Lynch in Curly Sue (1991). 

Critical Reception:

• IMDB: 6,4/10 
• Rotten Tomatoes: 38% (mixed to negative; 16 reviews).

Hope u like it 

loveuguys,

xoxoxox

ME