Return to Paradise (1998): Dir: Joseph Ruben / Cast: Vince Vaughn, Anne Heche, Joaquin Phoenix, Jada Pinkett, David Conrad: Three friends travel to Malaysia and experiment with drugs. Two of them return to New York while the other remains. Two years later they are given word that their friend was caught with drugs and will be hanged in eight days unless they return and accept responsibility with a three year sentence. Directed by Joseph Ruben who brings conviction to the material as well as request viewers to think. This is a big step for a guy who made the laughable Money Train. Vince Vaughn brings soul seeking desperation. Anne Heche is persistent with a secret of her own. One issue that distracts is the romance that develops between Vaughn and Heche, which is standard and unnecessary. Joaquin Phoenix is convincing as a guy who has suffered too long. David Conrad plays the third guy who will be reluctant to make the return especially when family factors in. Jada Pinkett on the other hand displays the media's greed to the point where she is unlikeable. She plays a journalist out for herself and her action bare consequences to innocent people. This is hardly entertaining but its message is driving and final. Beautiful photography highlights a place of overwhelming beauty where three guys find a private paradise turn into their own private hell. Score: 7 ½ / 10
Review of Return to Paradise
