Forever Lulu (2000)

That was an excellent one.

A Disappointing Continuation

A Brilliant Conflict

If you like to be scared, if you like to laugh, and if you like to learn a thing or two at the movies, this absolutely cannot be missed.

"Patrick Swayze and Melanie Griffith are 'Ben' and 'Lulu'. Years ago, they had an intense passionate affair, a relationship that ended very badly. Now, fifteen years later, he's a successful, married writer who gets a desperate call… Lulu needs his help. Chaotic and confused, she reveals a huge secret that they alone must deal with. Together, on a fiery cross-country journey they will find a new direction that points to their future," according to the DVD sleeve's synopsis.The irrelevant opening has Ms. Griffith and Ryan Bollman (as Freddie) in a San Francisco home for schizophrenics, estimating the number of blow-jobs "Lulu" has given (he calculates the number to be 500). Then, a connection is made between Griffith and Mr. Swayze, as they separately watch a television airing of the "The Hustler" (1961); Griffith and Swayze recite, verbatim, the dialogue delivered by Paul Newman (as Eddie) and Piper Laurie (as Sarah).Writer/director John Kaye has a good melodrama with the weakly titled "Forever Lulu" (strengthened to "Along for the Ride" for DVD release). But, the film is poorly structured, and looks rushed. The first thing I wanted to re-edit was the bar scene where Swayze re-encounters Griffith; she should have been introduced in long and/or medium shots, followed by a close-up. A later Griffith nude pool scene is much to staid; it should have been shot like Marilyn Monroe's swim in "Something's Got to Give" (1962).I have met both Swayze and Griffith, and these characters remind me so much of the actors (which is not to say they are exactly like the characters). When watching Swayze during the film's early scenes, I caught on to a layer of sadness he is using for the characterization of "Ben". As the film progresses, a plot revelation confirms something more (sad) about his character. Swayze had a distant melancholy about him, even before his illness was diagnosed; and, I believe this quality, along with an open naturalness, drew you to him. An engaging man.Griffith is also a lovely person, though quite unlike Swayze (apart from the flashbacks, their characters do not have much "chemistry"). Since Griffith may read this sometime, I met her at a 1980s party - she was (you were) there via a hairdresser friend and I with a DJ friend. We left for the patio to chain-smoke (Hey, Melanie, I quit!), and spoke about life's challenges… I didn't "go" to movies then, and was not aware of how popular an actress Melanie Griffith was; seeing her films now, I admire her work, and see some of the "Melanie" I met in the "Lulu" character.****** Forever Lulu (7/7/00) John Kaye ~ Melanie Griffith, Patrick Swayze, Penelope Ann Miller, Joseph Gordon-Levitt

This is a beautiful film with a superb script. It's amongst the top twenty films I've ever seen with excellent acting performances and sharp dialogue. The main character, Lulu, is both credible and appealing though certainly maddening as well. People who think she's unrealistic haven't lived through the hippie era which is her heyday in the film. The theme is serious and rarely treated since it concerns, amongst other things, paternity. There's plenty of these life dramas happening every day, males who discover to their dismay, horror or sometimes perhaps satisfaction that they've got a child. The mother Lulu is a remarkable piece of characterisation, like her or hate her -- one feels both. Some little scenes such as the one in the aircraft are masterly as screen writing.

I agree that this should not have been a comedy, it should not have been a drama. Of course there are moments that are comedic, but it is an amazing, sensitive, deep work that delves into places most of us never want to think about. I have been a fan of Patrick Swayze's for many years. He is able to reach somewhere deep within himself to handle a huge array of characters and this one, well he nails it on the head. You can see his love, the many different types of love and his conflict, both internal and external. The story deals with a topic that is all too common, yet all too often swept under the rug, schizophrenia and mental illness. I was amazed at the way the screenwriters,actors and directors/producers handled this subject. It was handled with sensitivity, intelligence and it was not about the stereotypes for the most part. It showed how a person, if well medicated can be "normal" of course what is normal? Melanie Griffin if absolutely amazing. She portrays the lead character with an amazing sense of humanity, grace and depth. She is perfect for the role and she reaches down somewhere that I never realized she had within her. I will look at her films in a new light now. This is an amazing piece of work, brilliantly done, with class and elegance.

Along for the Ride (or "Forever Lulu") is not a special film by any means. It's quite average like most films it has its moments. The only really surprising thing about it is how powerful the source music is at the end. Other than that the plot is pretty much predictable. Melanie Griffith does an absolutely amazing job in this film yet again and if you're a fan of hers its the only reason to see this film. Penelope Ann Miller is also quite good in a supporting part. If you have some time to kill this ain't bad.