Just the Ticket (1998)

Fresh and Exciting

The performances transcend the film's tropes, grounding it in characters that feel more complete than this subgenre often produces.

This is a small, humorous movie in some ways, but it has a huge heart. What a nice experience.

Through painfully honest and emotional moments, the movie becomes irresistibly relatable

Movies that are like "Just the Ticket" are never going to be box office smashes or win major awards, but they are all the same charming and well worth seeking out. It's kind of a mash between several different genres; it's alternately a comedy, a romance, and a character study. The comedy is gentle but does provoke some laughs, my favorite scene being when Andy Garcia's character impersonates a television salesman. The romance between Garcia's and Andie MacDowell's characters does have heart, plus some bittersweet moments that feel true to life. The examination of Garcia's character is really interesting. Although it's clear he's not a bad person, he is all the same a dreamer who resists the painful truths that reality have to offer, sometimes hurting people along the way. All these different genres are pretty well done and mix well together. I admit the movie is a tad long at 114 minutes in length when a slightly quicker pace might have helped. Also, what happens near the end is kind of a deus ex machina plot twist, though the happy ending it provides feels right for the movie. These nitpicks don't hurt the movie too much, however, and the movie ends up being a very pleasant sleeper.

In England they are known as Ticket Touts, but whether you know them as Touts or Scalpers the character is the same. Unpleasant. So an unlikely candidate as a leading character in a romantic comedy? Maybe so, but this is one of the things that sets this film apart from the average romantic comedy. Another is the performances. Not Oscar winning stuff maybe, but they all seem to be getting the most out of their roles. While the focus is on the relationship between Garcia and McDowell, the relationship between Garcia and his pal/father figure Benny underpins the film and ultimately is the catalyst which is the reason for the ending. Benny is ably played by Richard Bradford, at last being given a chance to stretch his wings outside of the corrupt coppers he is usually asked to play, and you would have to be a hard hearted person not to be touched by his portrayal. It is such a shame that so much of "Benny" ultimately ended up on the cutting room floor and so we are only given a glimpse of why Garcia takes him under his wing.If you want your intellect stretched, look elsewhere. But if you want to curl up on the sofa armed with a box of Kleenex and a box of chocolates, you could do a lot worse than let this film into your living room.

I love it. It just made me so happy watching it, and you can tell that Andy Garcia had a really good time making this by the way he acts.If I could make just one film in my life, this would be it, Richard Wenk can die a happy man (hopefully not for a very long time). I hope to see another one from these two guys. I know it is a long shot but I really feel that Andy should get an Oscar for this, this is his finest hour, this is so good and so true that you forget it is acting. The original screenplay also deserves and Oscar, it is thoughtful, funny and touching. What more do you want.If you want to see a good film, go rent or buy this, it is Just The Ticket.

I was on a British Airways flight from London to New York when I saw this movie. I wish I could have fallen asleep. The story line was very thin and the editing crew did their best to stretch it out as long as they did.Gary, played by Andy Garcia, was such an unlikable character that I found it hard to be supportive of him. Andy's acting ability is good but not good enough to make up for the poor writing in this movie.Andie MacDowell did a fine job with her portrayal of Linda, Gary's romantic interest. I can not say anything bad about Andie, I always enjoy her acting. The problem here is that the romance between Andy and Andie is so far fetched and unbelievable. The two do not make a good pair on the big screen.The end of the movie was almost as much of a let down as the movie itself. A nod from the Pope and all is forgiven, come on. The event that allows this movie to have a some what happy ending and that the writers would expect us to accept it is pathetic. Gary does not change and only by the death of a dear friend does his situation get better.There are tons of great movies that should be seen before this one. Don't waste your time.