Synopsis
Lewis, Sheriff and Tony are three friends vacationing in Malaysia. Sheriff and Tony eventually leave to pursue careers in New York, but Lewis stays behind to work with orangutans. Two years later, Sheriff and Tony learn that, because of their past actions, Lewis has been arrested for drug possession. With Lewis facing a death sentence, the friends are left with a difficult decision: return to Malaysia and split Lewis' sentence, or let him die.
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Cast
- Vince VaughnJohn 'Sheriff' Volgecherev
- Anne HecheBeth Eastern
- Joaquin PhoenixLewis McBride
- David ConradTony Croft
- Jada Pinkett SmithM.J. Major
- Vera FarmigaKerrie
- Nick SandowRavitch
- Elizabeth RodriguezGaby
- Ming LeeMr. Chandran
- Joel de la FuenteMr. Doramin
Recommendations
- 88
Chicago Sun-Times
The director, Joseph Ruben ("The Stepfather," "Sleeping With the Enemy"), uses a kind of flat, logical storytelling that leads us inexorably toward his conclusions. - 80
Slate
Return to Paradise doesn't boast many surprises. It's straight-on, morally uncomplicated. Emotionally, though, it's dense and twisty -- and smashingly potent. - 75
ReelViews
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. - 75
San Francisco Chronicle
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. - 75
San Francisco Examiner
This movie has a first-rate script, and director Joseph Ruben ( "True Believer," "The Stepfather" ) knew exactly what to do with it. - 70
Film Threat
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. - 60
The New York Times
The film's cool, sober texture and its clever characters are often more interesting than the larger plot. - 50
Rolling Stone
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.
