Probably the best performances I have ever seen out of Geena Davis AND William Hurt. AND !BIG SURPRISE! Kathleen Turner does not overact in this one--I think it was not long after this film that Turner started going over the top.

This is a sad, introspective film so if you don't like to watch movies which portray life's real problems, skip this one. And, yes, even though Geena Davis is supposed to be a Baltimore city woman and does not have one HINT of our beloved accent, I let it go. I cared so much about her and her son in this film and wanted so much for Macon and his family to love them as I did.

In this film, Muriel (Geena) meets Macon (Hurt), who is deeply mourning the accidental death of his young son which has apparently caused Macon and his wife Sarah (Turner) to separate. Geena's smile can light up a room. In some scenes, you just want to hug her! Her films today have been few and far between. She needs to rehire the agent who put her in this film, "The Fly" and "Thelma & Louise" because they are, by far, her best.

For those of you who have never experienced agonizing grief in your own lives, you may not understand Hurt's feelings. For me, I cried deeply watching him battle his pain and internal chaos--should he stay with Turner, should he start a new life with Davis? His choices may seem simple to you, but believe me, having been in his shoes, I know that something simple like picking out what clothes to wear to work each day is a monumental task. I can't remember ever liking Hurt in anything he has done, but he nailed this part. I am sure he dug up this pain from some godforsaken part of his life, and he surely deserved an award for this role. I was rooting for him to "let go" of the past the entire film--it took me a whole year to do so in my own life.

Ladies, this is definitely a "whole box of tissue" movie.

The DVD cover bills this as "astonishingly, irresistibly funny". Edward the dog is funny, but the people are not.

From the title, you would think the movie revolved around travel, but the only travel is a visit to a mundane hotel room in France you don't get to leave.

The big problem with this movie is the central character Macon is unsympathetic. He is boring, rude, insensitive, self-centred. He is pathologically passive. He speaks in a taciturn monotone. His job it taking the adventure of of travel, writing guides on where to find Burger King and MacDonalds outlets in Europe.

There are three romantic relationships in the movie. I could not not for the life of me see what any of the parties saw in any of the others.

That created some humour, Geena Davis's dogged pursuit of William Hurt who always responded like a limp dishrag.

It was a very frustrating movie. I wanted ANYTHING to happen to break the tedium of watching people going about their very boring lives.

There is only one scene in the movie that really touches the heart, when Macon sees a French boy who resembles his murdered son, but you have to wait to almost the end for it.

I read Anne Tyler's Dinner at the Homesick Restaurant but haven't read The Accidental Tourist. Still, this movie is a masterpiece, and William Hurt displays his top quality acting skills, especially the scene where he's called to identify his deceased son at the morgue. His facial expression says it all. That scene alone is worthy of three Oscars, and should be shown to all acting students. Why William Hurt didn't even get an Oscar nomination for this role is a mystery for the ages I guess (I say that with due respect to those nominated of course).

Another scene is where Macon attempts to explain to his siblings Rose, Porter and Charles, why he has kept the corgi. When we flashback to Macon's son having a wonderful time with corgi, nothing needs to be said, and Rose, Porter and Charles understand with much sympathy. It brings a tear to the eye.

I don't know if they makes movies like The Accidental Tourist anymore, as I guess Fast and the Furious and comic book heroes dominate the cinematic landscape (not that I'm being condescending of course). But this movie is timeless.