User Reviews

Years ago, I heard a released version of David Newman's theme music for James Orr's "Mr Destiny", and was so touched and inspired by it that I (fondly) imagined the film might be noble/high quality enough to match that. So now I finally got to watch "Mr Destiny", in which the version of the music I heard never actually appears at all (even if there are certain - lesser - variations on that theme!

And that strange circumstance maybe tells one most of what one needs to know about this James Belushi-Michael Caine-Linda Hamilton (and gorgeous Courtney Cox) movie, which - from today's perspective anyway - seems mainly trite, implausible, tame, lame and neither quite funny enough, nor quite thoughtful enough. Allowances might be made for this kind of whimsical fantasy, and I did make them. But somehow "Mr Destiny" does not achieve the cohesiveness and persusasiveness needed to score even in this genre. And in the end that's a pity, because Belushi's Larry Burrows character comes over as reasonably genuine, and there are hints in here of a better movie trying to get out.

But some years have indeed passed, and quite a few films have dealt with the topic of how our lives might look if we had taken a different decision at some point. Indeed, "Back to the Future" was doing that kind of work 5 years BEFORE "Mr Destiny", "Peggy Sue Got Married" four years before - and to far better effect.

To be charitable, "Mr Destiny" is mainly harmless, and does have a certain "feelgood" factor about it, and is occasionally funny. I watched it through, and was adequately satisified, so it can be done. But...

As a general rule, we would now need some special justifications to go back and watch any 1990 movie, and I'm afraid I'm not really able to make a case for giving an hour and a half to this one ... all the more so as even the music was not the exquisite stuff I had hoped for!

Spoiler!!! This movie is based on the concept of What If? Of course Mr Destiny will be able to answer this question. The main character goes through a bad day, like many of us, and asks this question. Chaos Theory states a butterfly in China could have an effect on someone over here from a chain reaction. The focus of this movie is based on one event during a baseball game. This event sets into motion one's Destiny; Just like Ashton in "The Butterfly effect" except Mr. Destiny uses comedy over drama. The results make a fresh, somewhat original movie. If one's philosophical are in tune with "The Butterfly Effect" one will likely enjoy Mr. Destiny. I give it a 7 out of 10. Amazing for I have seen the first half of this movie 3 times, and finally watched the ending on TBS.

OK, the concept is fascinating BUT... The main character first dislike his life (wife, job and so on) - then when he get this new life he still complaints - and want to go back to the stuff he had before. Why make a full movie out of this? Why not just ask Mr. Destiny to change it back, and so he will, instead of messing up this new life? The main character gives us an answer at one point, but I think it would be ten times better if it was made 10-15 years later and done a totally different way. It was very too sweet at the end of the movie, which seemed very imitated, even though it made me laugh a little. A better example of a similar movie, that I personally recommend more is The Family Man.

Mr. Destiny is in many ways similar to Back to the Future, but it is sort of the anti-Back to Future because of its message. In Back to the Future, problems are fixed by going back in time and making changes that result in a greater level of material existence, in Mr. Destiny we are taught to simply appreciate what we already have.

Oddly, the ending muddles this message. After we have learned with Belushi that riches are corrupt and un-endearing, and that a simpler life of love is his choice of life, he is lavished with a six-figure salary and a company Mercedes,. This opens some dark possibilities; let's hope he's learned his lesson.

The movie is very movie-like. Take Belushi's lingering befuddlement at what is going on and all of his plot questions, the answers of which are clearly directed at all of the children watching the movie.

Also the baseball is really embellished for effect. Because of the percentages involved, failing to get a hit (esp. a home run) is a lot different than a truly horrific moment like dropping a pop-up or letting a grounder go through your legs with two outs. That's not to say that someone wouldn't long regret having not gotten a home-run or key hit, but in that situation having a teammate sneer "way to go, BURroughs" and being a town-goat is ridiculous and only realistic if he pulled a Bill Buckner like move. Like I said, you are always very conscious of it being a movie, but that's not necessarily a bad thing.

Surprisingly, the antagonists are pretty compelling, almost believable, which is rare for such a movie-like atmosphere. Most movies in this mold include a one-dimensional villain who is motivated seemingly only by evil, a cheap character to give the cheap-thrill of being put in his place or humiliated. Such a character is notably lacking in Mr. Destiny. The threatening characters, Courteney Cox and a gem named Niles Pender, are unsavory but somewhat realistic people, driven by understandable motives like spite and money. The key is that their behavior and level of antagonism is reflective of the different actions and personalities of John Belushi, which, in an interesting twist, makes him the villain.

The potential of the Rene Russo character is a little lost, one problem with the weight of the movie is that Belushi is in his altered life as a visitor, and the potential feelings (good or bad) he has built for 10-15 years with his other-dimensional wife (Russo) are not present in him, only implied.

Another thing that isn't addressed is the sheer insult to Linda Hamilton by having him want out of his life. She says to him something like, "If things were so great, why did you want to change?" and he answers with "I guess I didn't realize what I had" which in a way is more insulting in that he didn't say something like, "I didn't think I'd lose you."

Lastly, what was up with the dog? After having a woman try to kill him, and while being chased by the police for a murder he didn't commit and getting fired all over the fact that a man he knows has been murdered, he doesn't "give up" in disappointment until he accidentally runs over his own dog? Then in the end of the move, he is happy (but under control) when seeing his old wife again and getting the great new job, but he's only ecstatic when he sees the dog alive again?

James Belushi, Linda Hamilton, Hart Bochner, Jon Lovitz and Michael Caine star in this 1990 fantasy-comedy. Belushi (The Principal) plays Larry, a mild-mannered guy who likes his life, but wishes what it would've been like if he had hit a baseball years prior. On his birthday, he gets his wish when he meets mysterious man, Mike (Caine) who takes him on a magical test-run. Hamilton (The Terminator) plays Larry's wife, Ellen, Bochner (Die Hard) plays Larry's despicable boss, Niles and Lovitz (Big) plays Larry's best friend, Clip. Courteney Cox and Rene Russo are also featured. This is a good film that obviously resembles "It's a Wonderful Life," Belushi is great in it as well as David Newman's score. I recommend this.

James Belushi delivers an ingratiating performance as Larry Burrows, an average-Joe junior executive at a sporting goods company who just can't live down a pivotal moment in his life. It was 20 years ago, and he was at bat during a high school baseball game and struck out at a crucial moment. Now, he has a pleasant life, married to a union rep (an adorable Linda Hamilton), but he still always wonders about what could have been.

Then, during one bad night (the night of his 35th birthday), he chances to meet magical bartender Mike (Sir Michael Caine), who is somehow able to transport Larry to an alternate reality where Larry hits the winning ball, marries the prom queen (Rene Russo), and is the president of the company. But all is not rosy in this other life. While some things may have changed for the better, Larry apparently did not. He learns that his incredible success came at a price: he turned into a major league slime ball.

Many of us do have cause to wonder how different our lives could be had we made different decisions. Therefore, "Mr. Destiny" is relatable. It may not be nearly on the level of "It's a Wonderful Life", but it IS well-intentioned and offers an entertaining mix of comedy and drama. Much humour is derived from Larry (who still retains his original personality, flummoxed that he could have turned into such a jerk) adjusting to a new life.

Sir Michael is just right in the role of the "destiny-bender", maintaining a light touch at all times. The supporting cast is wonderful and full of familiar faces: Jon Lovitz (as the goofy best friend), Hart Bochner (playing the role of a corporate villain to the hilt), Bill McCutcheon, Jay O. Sanders, Maury Chaykin, Pat Corley, Douglas Seale, Courteney Cox, Tony Longo, and Kathy Ireland (there's certainly no shortage of dynamite-looking ladies here).

While the message of "learning to appreciate what you've got" is stated quite bluntly, the movie IS appealing and hits lots of emotional buttons effectively.

Seven out of 10.

Before "Bruce Almight" there was Mr Destiny, a moral tale with clear inspiration taken from the Dickens classic story. Probably it is much more enjoyable to be seen today (2021) than it was in 1990, as we can enjoy a young cast of Belushi, Michael Cane, Jon Lovitz and Courtney Cox. Of course, the prize goes to an already cougar - but sogourgeous - Rene Russo. Hard to forget the scene of her standing in her underwears and mask before belushi.