The Accidental Tourist

Name: The Accidental Tourist
Genre: Drama, Romance
Released: December 23, 1988
Duration: 121 min
Rating: 53
Cast: Geena Davis, Kathleen Turner, William Hurt

1988

METASCORE

Mixed or average reviews based on 12 Critics

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USER SCORE

Generally favorable reviews based on 10 Ratings

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7.8

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7.8	User Score Generally favorable reviews based on 10 Ratings

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THE ACCIDENTAL TOURIST

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Movie Details & Credits

Warner Bros. Pictures | Release Date: December 23, 1988

Starring: Geena Davis, Kathleen Turner, William Hurt

Summary: An author of travel books (Hurt) sees his world turned upside down when his son dies, his wife (Turner) leaves him, and he meets an eccentric dog trainer (Davis).

Director: Lawrence Kasdan

Genre(s): Drama, Romance

Rating: PG

Runtime: 121 min

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Awards & Rankings

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Metascore

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Critic Reviews

100

USA Today - Mike Clark

The chief delight is Kasdan. “Body Heat” was appropriately slick, but “The Big Chill” and “Silverado” too much so. Tourist is edgier - also the work of a genuine craftsman. Frankly, I didn't think Kasdan had it in him. [23 Dec 1988, Life, p.1D]

100

Los Angeles Times - Sheila Benson

Irresistibly funny… Just about the best holiday gift imaginable. [23 Dec 1988, Calendar, p.6-1]

100

Chicago Sun-Times - Roger Ebert

I've never seen a movie so sad in which there was so much genuine laughter. The Accidental Tourist is one of the best films of the year. Read full review

Chicago Reader - Jonathan Rosenbaum

Hurt's character is so inert and unemotional that some spectators may find it difficult to stay interested in him. Read full review

The New York Times - Elvis Mitchell

The Accidental Tourist often relies on Miss Tyler's methods without tempering them, and gives a tone of crashing obviousness to material that need not have seemed that way. [23 Dec 1988, p.C12]

Christian Science Monitor - David Sterritt

The message of the film is that life isn't neat and predictable like a well-arranged business trip; yet everything in the picture is so calculated that there's no life to it. [23 Dec 1988, A& L, p.19]

The New Yorker - Pauline Kael

I found Tourist hell to sit through. [23 Jan 1989]

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User Reviews

lucys.

Oct 29, 2005

This film requires several viewings. Appreciation for William Hurt's abilities may be difficult to endure if one is in a similar state of mind. The possibilities of life returning after a devistating experience of the death of a child, particularly to a person who was guarded against This film requires several viewings. Appreciation for William Hurt's abilities may be difficult to endure if one is in a similar state of mind. The possibilities of life returning after a devistating experience of the death of a child, particularly to a person who was guarded against life previously to the child's death, demonstrates transformation at its most wonderful state.… Expand

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beingryanjude

Sep 1, 2014

The Accidental Tourist is a whirlwind of emotions--sadness and laughter throughout. The film is worth seeing for the performances of Kathleen Turner and Geena Davis alone.

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MikeG.

Dec 7, 2005

I'm with Pauline Kael on this one. This movie dragged and dragged and dragged, except when Geena Davis showed up every few minutes to annoy the audience - her performance was someone rubbing her hand over a balloon. I just couldn't believe how long this movie seemed to be and how I'm with Pauline Kael on this one. This movie dragged and dragged and dragged, except when Geena Davis showed up every few minutes to annoy the audience - her performance was someone rubbing her hand over a balloon. I just couldn't believe how long this movie seemed to be and how relieved I was when it was finally over.… Expand

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