You need to watch this movie!- What Dreams May Come

A movie made when I was the bright young age of 2, What Dreams May Come was the first and only movie I have ever seen Robin Williams in that is not an outright comedy and boy doesn’t he rock it. Don’t get me wrong, he does have his comedic moments, can’t have a legend of comedy like him in a movie but overall the tone of the movie is not a cheerful one, becoming exceedingly dark at many points. At the time this movie what acclaimed for its phenomenal special effects, at times taking place in either a stunning representation of the creative directors representation of heaven or hell. Many times this movie will move you, either bringing you up or absolutely tearing you down bringing you to the edge of tears due to the absolutely stunning performances from the actors.

SPOILERS

First you are hit with the picture perfect meeting of our two main characters Chris Nielson (Robin Williams) and eventually his wife Annie Nielson (Annabella Sciorra). The viewer immediately falls in love with them and then their two kids who are killed in a crashed shortly after their introduction. This drives Annie into a mental hospital and almost destroys her and Chris’s marriage only to be brought back and held together by Chris. One night after work Chris calls Annie who is freaking out because some of her paintings are going to be late to the exhibit so Chris volunteers. On the way he arrives at a car crash and gets out to assist, being hit and killed by another vehicle in the process. He goes to heaven which is a painting his wife painted for him of their dream house, everything is made of paint, water, and even animals. It takes accepting he is dead for it to all turn real and no longer paint with the guidance of Cuba Gooding Jr. His heaven gets updated when his wife adds to the painting, revealing that him and his wife are soulmates which is very rare. After meeting back up with his kids he is told that his wife has committed suicide and gone to hell, not the torture hell, but hell where suicides go where they can’t accept that their dead, so he decided to go save her to which he is told is impossible but that doesn’t stop him. He ends up going on an adventure and once arriving he is told if he spends to much time trying to convincing her he will be stuck in hell forever with her. When he can’t convince her she is dead he chooses to spend all eternity in hell and then she finally accepts, and rescues him and they go and live in heaven together.