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

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Mixed or average reviews based on 12 Critic Reviews

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USER SCORE

Generally favorable reviews based on 18 Ratings

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7.2

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7.2	User Score Generally favorable reviews based on 18 Ratings

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The Accidental Tourist

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Movie Details & Credits

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

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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Critic Reviews

100

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

Sheila Benson

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

100

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

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

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]

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]

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

0 of 0 users found this helpful

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.

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

ehuisman

Jul 12, 2020

Enjoyable at best, the Accidental Tourist misses too many of its marks to hold up. Its problematic ideas on gender can be forgiven in 1988, although they were growing out of fashion even then. Its romantic touches are too light to pass for serious commentary, but too heavy to qualify asEnjoyable at best, the Accidental Tourist misses too many of its marks to hold up. Its problematic ideas on gender can be forgiven in 1988, although they were growing out of fashion even then. Its romantic touches are too light to pass for serious commentary, but too heavy to qualify as comedic. Hurt's character is original, but played too thickly. John Williams sounds like Mozart is leading band camp; it's good but in the wrong context. The female leads keep the film from falling apart, but even they are not strong enough to make the experience anything close to memorable.… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

FilipeNeto

Oct 29, 2020

Honestly, I expected much more from this film. In addition to appears to be a little dated, I think it suffers immensely from the fact that the overwhelming majority of it's characters, including the protagonist, are boring or unpleasant.

The film addresses how Macon Leary, a travel guideHonestly, I expected much more from this film. In addition to appears to be a little dated, I think it suffers immensely from the fact that the overwhelming majority of it's characters, including the protagonist, are boring or unpleasant.

The film addresses how Macon Leary, a travel guide writer who writes for those who have to travel but hate to do so, will rebuild his own life after his son's painful death and the end of his marriage. He is, as it were, a monotonous and absolutely uninteresting being, who seems to have an aversion to unexpected situations or strong emotions. For me, this is enough to prevent me from having any sympathy for him. It's too tasteless! But even worse and more detestable was the attitude of his wife, Sarah, who is so selfish and self-centered that she prefers divorce after feeling that she does not receive any support from her husband when their son dies. Did she think that he, without showing it, in a closed way, was also suffering? Interesting and appealing was Muriel, who seems to take pleasure in turning Macon's world inside out.

The cast is full of big names and that always has its weight. William Hurt is a good actor and does what he can but is unable to please me. It's not the actor's fault, but the character's and the way he was thought. It's a growing work, with the actor showing an increasingly wide range of emotions, but it was something necessary for the character. Geena Davis is extraordinary and achieves, with this film, one of the most notable works of her career, in my opinion. Kathleen Turner is a great actress too, but I felt she has little to do here. Amy Wright, David Ogden Stiers and Ed Begley Jr. are also part of this film, in secondary characters.

Technically, it is an uninteresting film as well: cinematography is quite dated, with low light and washed colors, but that was normal at the time it was released. Sets and costumes do not disappoint but also do not please. The pace is quite slow and there is a dose of melodrama that can be tedious, but which is greatly attenuated by the moments of light humor, most of which are played by Davis and animals. The soundtrack, by John Williams, not being his best, fulfills its role.… Expand

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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

0 of 0 users found this helpful

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