A WALK IN THE CLOUDS

Stars: Keanu Reeves, Anthony Quinn, Aitana Sanchez-Gijon, Giancarlo Giannini. Written by Robert Mark Kamen, Mark Miller, Harvey Weitzman. Directed by Alfonso Arau. Rated PG-13 for adult themes.

A World War II veteran named Paul (Keanu Reeves) returns from the war to find out the woman he married just before shipping out four years earlier didn't bother to read the letters he sent her on a daily basis. He heads off to Sacramento with a case full of Hershey chocolates to sell, hoping for a chance to swing his fate in a new direction. That chance comes in the form of Victoria (Aitana Sanchez-Gijon).

Victoria is returning to the Napa Valley where her family owns and operates a vineyard that has been dubbed "The Clouds" because of its beauty. The problem is that she is pregnant, unmarried, and fearful of what her father (Giancarlo Giannini) will do when he discovers this to be the case. Paul agrees to pretend to be her husband for a day and then "abandon" her the next so that her father won't think the child is illegitimate. Her family, except for the strong-willed father, embraces Paul with open arms and coaxes him into staying a few days longer. Naturally, Paul and Victoria develop feelings for each other, but Paul refuses to act upon them because he is already married.

Although there isn't a single unpredictable scene in "A Walk in the Clouds", it is good enough to still be entertaining. Except for the ending, which wraps things up too nicely, the film is an authentically romantic drama which is likely to leaving one feeling good despite its contrivances.


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