Return to Paradise
MCA/Universal Pictures | Release Date: August 14, 1998 CRITIC SCORE DISTRIBUTION
56
METASCORE
Mixed or average reviews based on 22 Critic Reviews
Positive:
11
Mixed:
8
Negative:
3
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Critic Reviews

Critic scorePublicationBy date
88
Chicago Sun-TimesRoger Ebert
The director, Joseph Ruben ("The Stepfather," "Sleeping With the Enemy"), uses a kind of flat, logical storytelling that leads us inexorably toward his conclusions. Read full review
88
New York Daily NewsDave Kehr
Directed with great skill and intelligence by Joseph Ruben, Return to Paradise, is a rare thing among today's movies a drama of conscience. [14 Aug1 998, Pg.51]
83
Entertainment WeeklyOwen Gleiberman
Return to Paradise is "Midnight Express" remade from the outside, as existential quandary. It has the moody, disquieting undertow of a true moral thriller. Read full review
80
SlateDavid Edelstein
Return to Paradise doesn't boast many surprises. It's straight-on, morally uncomplicated. Emotionally, though, it's dense and twisty -- and smashingly potent. Read full review
80
Chicago ReaderJonathan Rosenbaum
None of the moral ramifications of this dilemma is avoided, and to the film’s credit the behavior of the American press seems more questionable than the machinations of third-world justice. Read full review
75
ReelViewsJames Berardinelli
The film's ending is a little unanticipated, and, although there are a few too many surprise revelations in the last 20 minutes, they all work reasonably well to enhance, rather than diminish, the central theme. Read full review
75
San Francisco ChronicleBob Graham
A potential problem with the movie is that it can be a challenge watching people hand-wringing over moral decisions. But the acting is so good that it makes it worth sticking with during the slow patches. Read full review
75
San Francisco ExaminerBarbara Shulgasser
This movie has a first-rate script, and director Joseph Ruben ( "True Believer," "The Stepfather" ) knew exactly what to do with it. Read full review
75
The Globe and Mail (Toronto)Rick Groen
As returns go, Return To Paradise falls short of heavenly, but it does get to the stars -- at least three of them. Read full review
70
Film ThreatAnthony Miele
Although there are a few other flaws in the film (flaws that will not be mentioned since it would give away major plot points) and the lack of character development is a major oversight by the filmmakers, Return to Paradise still manages to grip you until the fateful ending, an ending that is very powerful and must be witnessed to be believed. Read full review
63
TV Guide MagazineMaitland McDonagh
Despite solid performances from the leads, it comes shrouded in a heavy cloud of ethics-class complications that makes it feel like a "dilemma of the week" TV movie. Read full review
60
The New York TimesJanet Maslin
The film's cool, sober texture and its clever characters are often more interesting than the larger plot. Read full review
60
EmpireAngie Errigo
A gripping modern morality tale with a credible cast and a compelling premise. The film is heavy on self examination and will make you think: what would you do? Read full review
50
Rolling StonePeter Travers
What if director Joseph Ruben didn't resort to B-movie suspense tricks? What if the fine cast wasn't saddled with a shamelessly contrived script by Wesley Strick and Bruce Robinson? Then Return to Paradise would be a better movie, that's what if. Read full review
50
The A.V. ClubJohn Krewson
Although Vaughn and Heche do a decent job in standard roles, the movie bogs itself down with enough silly plot twists and subplots to effectively dilute the viewers' interest. Read full review
50
Christian Science MonitorDavid Sterritt
The story raises challenging moral and legal questions but loses energy in a miscalculated romantic subplot. Read full review
40
Austin ChronicleMarc Savlov
There are, of course, the requisite trial sequences, and some mildly horrific shocks along the way, but Ruben and company fail to make any of this very interesting. Read full review
40
The New YorkerAnthony Lane
The best reason to stay with it is Vaughn, whose lanky wryness wards off the threat of pomposity. The worst reason is Jada Pinkett Smith, who gets stuck with a thankless role as the unwittingly lethal villain -- a newspaper journalist, of course. Read full review
40
VarietyTodd McCarthy
None of the characters is given much depth or meaningful backgrounding, leaving the capable thesps with plenty of anguish and emotion to play but not much else. Read full review
30
Los Angeles TimesKenneth Turan
Though the Strick-Robinson script is solid from line to line, the film's plot is finally too implausible for anyone to rescue. Read full review
30
Dallas ObserverScott Kelton Jones
Instead of a gripping, conscience-bending thriller, Paradise plods along, determined to be some sort of master chess game ruminating on personal and cultural value systems and the complex and often contradicting facets of loyalty, honesty, friendship, love, responsibility, self-preservation, and exploitation. Read full review
10
Washington PostMichael O'Sullivan
Unfortunately, the dramatic potential of such a moral quandary is left largely unmined in director Joseph Ruben's monotonous parlor game of will-he-won't-he. [14 Aug 1998, Pg. N.39]
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