Forces of Nature
DreamWorks Distribution | Release Date: March 19, 1999 CRITIC SCORE DISTRIBUTION
46
METASCORE
Mixed or average reviews based on 26 Critic Reviews
Positive:
8
Mixed:
13
Negative:
5
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Critic Reviews

Critic scorePublicationBy date
75
ReelViewsJames Berardinelli
Aside from the likable performers, Forces of Nature's greatest strength is that it flouts several established conventions of the genre. Read full review
75
Christian Science MonitorDavid Sterritt
Romantic comedy about a bridegroom-to-be who gets sidetracked on the way to his wedding, especially by an unexpected traveling companion who's both free-spirited and beautiful. Read full review
70
VarietyJoe Leydon
An extremely enjoyable neo-screwball comedy about attractive opposites on the road. Read full review
70
Los Angeles TimesKenneth Turan
Turns out to be an extremely likable vehicle with a genuine sense of fun. Read full review
70
Village VoiceJustine Elias
Well-constructed, if chilly, road romance, with some great throwaway lines. Read full review
70
NewsweekYahlin Chang
Refreshingly, the movie doesn't treat you like a moron who needs to be told which woman to root for. If Ben has to choose, why shouldn't you? Read full review
67
Austin ChronicleMarc Savlov
In the end, Forces of Nature is a creampuff of a film, it being a scrappy romantic comedy of the purest stripe, what's so wrong with that? Not a thing. Read full review
63
The Globe and Mail (Toronto)Don Irvine
The man (Affleck) is something of a force of nature himself, and it ain't pretty. Read full review
60
The New York TimesJanet Maslin
The film shows off Ms. Bullock to amusing if overly frenetic advantage. It also leaves Affleck without enough of a Cary Grant aura to play his wimpier character with style. Read full review
50
Washington PostRita Kempley
Unhappily, the attractive twosome never give into the pull, just as this coquettish variant of "Planes, Trains and Automobiles" never arrives at its promised destination. Read full review
50
San Francisco ExaminerWesley Morris
An arcade game disguised as a love story, nearly comatose with cute. Read full review
50
TV Guide MagazineMaitland McDonagh
Make no mistake: This slackly paced picture doesn't gel. Read full review
50
San Francisco ChronicleMick LaSalle
A so-so, OK, perfectably acceptable, nice, rather charming romantic comedy with two stars who are entirely watchable. Read full review
50
USA TodaySusan Wloszczyna
Works best as a ponderous metaphor for life's uncertainties. As a lighthearted comedy, the force, alas, is not with it. [19 March 1999, Life, p.13E]
50
SalonMary Elizabeth Williams
The fault isn't all in the chemistry, or lack thereof. The more pressing conundrum of "Forces" is that writer Marc Lawrence paints his lead character into a morally ambiguous corner. Read full review
50
Entertainment WeeklyOwen Gleiberman
The movie has the structure of a madcap romantic chase without the wiggy, busting-out freedom. Read full review
50
Washington PostDesson Thomson
Ultimately, Forces of Nature is more of a lull than a passionate storm. Read full review
50
SlateDavid Edelstein
Sporadically funny but uneasily revisionist screwball comedy. Read full review
50
Rolling StonePeter Travers
Sandra Bullock and Ben Affleck as star-crossed lovers, is the cinematic equivalent of Styrofoam: a weightless romantic comedy of synthetic feelings. Read full review
40
Dallas ObserverBill Gallo
Unfortunately, Bullock and Affleck don't strike many sparks or produce many yuks…they're not exactly built for comedy. Read full review
40
The New YorkerSarah Kerr
Bullock is refreshingly natural, as usual, but Affleck seems uncomfortable as the romantic lead--if she's light as a feather, he's stiff as a board. Marc Lawrence's implausible script and Bronwen Hughes's tin-ear direction do nothing to improve matters. Read full review
30
TimeRichard Corliss
All its desperate plot maneuvers (Ben and Sandra making like Tarzan on a train roof) can't give the film wit; all the slo-mo sleet, rain and confetti can't give it style. [March 22, 1999]
30
The A.V. ClubNathan Rabin
Only succeeds sporadically, even if it's never quite the unwatchable monstrosity it so clearly could have been. Read full review
25
Chicago TribuneRick Kogan
If you are misguided or otherwise unfortunate enough to see Forces of Nature, you will find yourself the next day with but one image, one memory, in your head: Sandra Bullock's teeth. [19 March 1999, Friday, p.A]
25
Chicago Sun-TimesRoger Ebert
Leads us down the garden path of romance, only to abandon us by the compost heap of uplifting endings. And it's not even clever enough to give us the right happy ending. It gives us the wrong happy ending. Read full review
0
Chicago ReaderGina Fattore
Monstrously offensive movie. Read full review
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