Can't Be Heaven

My kids loved "Can't be Heaven." This is a very underrated, very touching, and very cute film that really is what family filmmaking is about. This one will definitely make you cry it's so heartwarming. Ralph Macchio rocks!

romanticism. and jazz. and Diane Ladd. and a drop of Italian atmosphere. and, sure, Ralph Macchio. not a great film. only a touching one. remembering Hallmark productions but being different. because its stories are more seductive but common love stories. because it is a film about past and roots, about future, about the meaning of life, about a boy who understand the way to be yourself, about family and about a long expectations. and, sure, about miracles. it is one of charming films who becomes bridge between periods, ages and generations. because it is, scene by scene, a surprise. and this is the purpose - to give new perspective about ordinary things. its power of seduction is real lovely. short, a trip. out of every day reality.for understand it better.

I truly don't know how or why they made this movie. I suppose to see if they could get away with it. Let's just say that the acting and editing are horrible in this movie. Not to mention the writing. The story is a good idea, but probably would have worked better with children of an older age (instead of 12). This is more of a movie for younger (I mean really younger) adults and shouldn't be watched by anyone who has passed puberty. The only thing that made this watchable was the performance by Ralph Macchio, who plays a dead sax player. Even he can't pull this thing out of the muck though. I strongly recommend that you don't waste the money on this garbage.

Danny is falling in love with his best friend Julie, but isn't sure what to do about it. Danny recruits a mentor to help him win Julie's affections, Hubbie Darling, a jazz sax player from the 30's who he happened to meet in the cemetery while visiting his father's grave. Hubbie has his problems though, as he has been dead for 60 years and is refusing to go to heaven until he can be joined by his one true love who is still alive. Hubbie offer's Danny advise and gives him suggestions on how to win Julie over, but what worked in the way of romance in the 30's may not have the same effect in the 90's. Danny finds himself nervous around Julie when she starts hanging out with Archie, the handsome new boy in the class. With Hubbie's advise, he is not only losing Julie's love, but he's getting beat up by the new boy who is also after Julie's affections. But Danny persists, he trusts Hubbie's instincts. Hubbie teaches Danny to play a love song he wrote for his sweetheart, but never had the chance to play it for her. Danny learns the song and plays it beautifully. At a school dance Danny finds a way to show Julie how he feels towards her, he plays the sax which touches Julie who then starts to realize that she feels more for Danny the she thought. But Danny's mettle is tested when he has to defend Julie from a physical attack by Archie. Danny barely wins the fight, but he for the first time asserts himself for Julie. Later, Danny plays the song for Hubbie in the cemetery, Danny's grandmother hears the music and follows it. There in the cemetery, she see's Hubbie. We learn that it is Danny's grandmother Hubbie has been waiting for. Hubbie shows Danny that when two people belong together, nothing can keep them apart, not even death.

I started watching "Can't be Heaven" just to see what Ralph Macchio looks like these days, and was gradually hooked into this latter-day "Wonder Years" story line. This film is a refreshing escape from the typical hard-pounding hip hop garbage that dominates teen-theme films today. Ralph Macchio offers a fine, understated performance while Diane Ladd brings realism and feeling to a role often wrought by overacted stereotype. By the end of the film, it feels all right to believe that Danny (Bryan Burke) can burn on the sax like jazz legend Red Holloway, who provides the smooth Chicago sound. Jazz fans will notice that Macchio's character, Hubbie, is also a jazz man from the "Windy City". "Can't be Heaven" is truly a sweet surprise, stocked with a surprisingly familiar cast. Pick up some goodies from your local Italian bakery and settle in for some smiles and tears, all worth the effort.