Return to Me

Return to Me Information

Return to Me is a 2000 American romantic comedy film directed by Bonnie Hunt and starring David Duchovny and Minnie Driver. It was filmed in Chicago in 1999, and released in April 2000.

Storyline

The story begins with scenes at the Lincoln Park Zoo, where Bob and Elizabeth Rueland (David Duchovny and Joely Richardson) work"?Bob as an architect, Elizabeth as a zoologist. Early in the film, Bob's world is shattered when Elizabeth is killed in a tragic car accident.

Meanwhile, Grace Briggs (Minnie Driver) is shown in a hospital's intensive care unit. She has been awaiting a life-saving heart transplant, and now a heart is available. The surgery is successful and Grace, having been given a second chance, begins to live her life to the fullest.

Bob, however, is still heartbroken from his loss and goes into a state of depression. His friend, Charlie (David Allen Grier), notices this and organizes a blind date for him. Bob does not connect well with his date, but rather with the waitress (and restaurant owner's granddaughter) – Grace.

The remainder of the movie follows the flow and complexity of Bob and Grace's relationship, and their eventual realization that the heart Grace received belonged to Elizabeth.

Cast

David Duchovny as Bob Rueland
Minnie Driver as Grace Briggs
Carroll O'Connor as Marty O'Reilly
Robert Loggia as Angelo Pardipillo
Bonnie Hunt as Megan Dayton
David Alan Grier as Charlie Johnson
Joely Richardson as Elizabeth Rueland
Eddie Jones as Emmett McFadden
James Belushi as Joe Dayton
William Bronder as Wally Jatczak
Marianne Muellerleile as Sophie

Box office

The film opened at number four at the North American box office making $7.8 million USD in its opening weekend, behind The Road to El Dorado, Erin Brockovich and Rules of Engagement, which opened at the top spot. It would make a total of $32,662,299 USD in its entire box office run.

Production notes

This film gets its title from the 1957 Dean Martin recording of the same name (the song was composed by Carmen Lombardo and Danny DiMinno). The voices of the female background singers were removed electronically and a jazzier accompaniment was added for the film version.
This was the last film for both Carroll O'Connor and Dick Cusack.
Features Hunt's frequent acting collaborators: Duchovny, Grier, Don Lake, Marianne Muellerleile, Holly Wortell, and Hunt herself, all of whom would be regulars or recurring guests on Life with Bonnie.
Many of the restaurant scenes in the movie were filmed at Twin Anchors, in Chicago's Old Town neighborhood; its plaque with two anchors was retained for filming and is visible on the wall. The hospital scenes were filmed in Michael Reese Hospital and feature Hunt's brother, Dr. Kevin Hunt, and his transplant team as themselves.
Features the music of the Alan Gresik Swing Shift Orchestra, a swing band still playing every Thursday at the historic Green Mill Lounge in Chicago.