Return to Paradise

R

Released Aug 10, 1998

1 hr. 49 min.

Drama

List

70%

44 Reviews

Tomatometer

74%

5,000+ Ratings

Audience Score

Lewis (Joaquin Phoenix), Sheriff (Vince Vaughn) and Tony (David Conrad) 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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Kevin P

This one will evoke several different emotions as you watch

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

02/10/24

Full Review

andrey k

Sensational story indeed, raising probably the most hard moral and metaphysical questions humans have ever faced; and questions that have not solutions, of the kind that everybody must asnwer only to himself. So many other important topics are raised beside the main one of whether one would come back, like Lewis' monologue about the need of God in jail, like Sheriff's confession of having become tired of irresponsibility. Memorable story with fine performances from the whole cast.

Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars

03/31/23

Full Review

Audience Member

This film is a well acted tale of loyalty and choices. When 3 friends part in Malaysia, one is sentenced to death for drug possession. Back in the states, the other 2 have a choice - to come and reduce his sentence or carry on their own lives. Heche plays the lawyer, love and sibling roles. The plot bogs down in the middle in an attempt to build the relationship between Heche and Vaughan...but it just doesn't work the way it should.

Rated 3 out of 5 stars

01/12/23

Full Review

jay s

I liked it very much. Life inspired.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

03/31/23

Full Review

Audience Member

To date Joaquin Phoenix's best role and I'm a huge fan of all of his work. The story is so profound and his acting makes it feel so real. Twenty years later it still haunts me in ways no other role has.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

01/17/23

Full Review

william s

Morality plays have been done better and some worse in this average,middle of the road drama.

Rated 2.5 out of 5 stars

03/31/23

Full Review

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Joseph Ruben

Director

Vince Vaughn

John "Sheriff" Volgecherev

Anne Heche

Beth Eastern

Joaquin Phoenix

Lewis McBride

David Conrad

Tony Croft

Vera Farmiga

Kerrie

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88%

79%

Gridlock'd

81%

73%

Jude

65%

25%

Going All the Way

36%

64%

No Looking Back

67%

61%

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Owen Gleiberman

Entertainment Weekly

Rated: B+

Sep 7, 2011

Full Review

Geoff Andrew

Time Out

It's a painful prospect, to be sure, and Sheriff, in particular, insists he's no hero, but the next hour or so of handwringing conjures little suspense.

Jun 24, 2006

Full Review

Globe and Mail

Rated: 3/4

Jul 12, 2002

Full Review

Maitland McDonagh

TV Guide

Despite solid performances from the leads, it comes shrouded in a heavy cloud of ethics-class complications that makes it feel like a "dilemma of the week" TV movie.

Rated: 2.5/4

Oct 4, 2009

Full Review

Anthony Miele

Film Threat

Vince Vaughn finally gives a performance putting him in the serious actor category, Joaquin Phoenix is notable and Anne Heche is believable as the impassioned attorney fighting for the life of her client.

Rated: 3.5/5

Dec 6, 2005

Full Review

Michael E. Grost

Classic Film and Television

Involving drama about our responsibilities to others.

Jan 24, 2005

Full Review

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Synopsis

Lewis (Joaquin Phoenix), Sheriff (Vince Vaughn) and Tony (David Conrad) 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.

Director: Joseph Ruben
Executive Producer: David Arnold, Ezra Swerdlow
Screenwriter: Pierre Jolivet, Olivier Schatzky, Wesley Strick, Bruce Robinson
Distributor: United Artists, MCA/Universal Pictures [us], Polygram
Production Co: PolyGram Filmed Entertainment
Rating: R
Genre: Drama
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Aug 10, 1998, Original
Release Date (Streaming): Sep 10, 2015
Box Office (Gross USA): $8.3M
Sound Mix: Surround, Dolby Digital
Aspect Ratio: Scope (2.35:1)

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