Regarding Henry

I'm going to wrap up my Star Wars week with an earlier collaberation between J.J. Aabrams and Harrison Ford, 1991's Regarding Henry.

Ford reteamed with his Working Girl director Mike Nichols on this screenplay by Abrams. In it Ford plays Henry Turner, a workaholic attorney who neglects his family. One night when stops off for cigarettes, he walks into a convenience store robbery and is shot. He survives, but the bullet hits close to his brain, leading him to months of rehab and a more childlike existence. But the bullet is kind of a blessing in disguise making Henry a better husband and father.

I think the real reason to see this movie is Ford's performance. He is really good, especially in the later scenes as the more innocent Henry. Ford was one of the first choices to star in Big, which I thought was an odd choice when I first heard this. But after seeing him in this role I could totally see it. Bill Nunn is also really good as Henry's therapist Bradley. I think their scenes together have more warmth and humor than his scenes with his family. The always good Annette Bening plays Henry's wife Sarah. It's kind of a thankless role that she has been saddled down with though.

I think my main problem with the movie is that it is overly shmaltzy. I think audiences might have sensed this and that's why it wasn't a bigger hit.

I can't totally recommend it, but it's worth checking out for Ford's performance.

Available on dvd.