MISCELLANY

Movie Review: What Dreams May Come

Ecc 5:7 : For in the multitude of dreams and many words there are also divers vanities: but fear thou God.

What Dreams May Come “Is this where we go when we die?”, a daughter asks a father as she builds what appears to be a cardboard triptych of heaven. He answers, “It's a dream, baby. It's a beautiful one, but, you know, dreams...” And she completes his sentence: “are not real.”

For a movie where dreams are reality, where what you see is what your mind creates, and where everyone seems to create their own versions of heaven, What Dreams May Come seems pretty confident of the structure of heaven and topics related to life after death. Of course, these are topics that most people are interested in, so the movie ultimately wins as good piece of entertainment.

Who can fault this vision of heaven, where gorgeous landscapes drip with color, with the lush, rich oils of imagined paintings? This is where Chris, played by Robin Williams, has gone after being killed in a car wreck. With its painterly colors, the heaven he has imagined is apparently inspired by the wife he left behind who paints with oils (and works with pastels and charcoals, too, apparently). At his gravesite while she grieves, Chris tells her: “Don't worry, babe, I'm not leaving you alone. I'm not going anywhere.” Then he abandons her for heaven!

Fortunately, Chris has a friend, Albert (played by Cuba Gooding, Jr.) who guides Chris and explains the details of heaven (and always seems to slow the movie down when he does). Albert's responses to questions are a little like the responses Rip Torn's character in Defending Your Life gives to Albert Brooks: “Where were you? I'm just curious.” “I'd tell you, but you wouldn't understand.” “Don't treat me like a moron. Try me.” “I was trapped near the inner circle of thought.” “I don't understand.” “I told you...”

Chris's wife Annie, played by Annabella Sciorra, left behind to grieve Chris's death, is now left with multiple losses. For four years early, Chris and Anna's beautiful son and daughter died together in a car wreck (not a good movie if you are afraid of driving). We think they've gone to heaven, too, for Chris's friend Albert seems to be his son at times, and his other friend Leona could possibly be his daughter. I'm not sure. Albert wasn't in clear-explanation mode at the time.

But there is trouble in paradise. Apparently annexed to heaven, a short boat ride away, is hell. As far as heaven is concerned, Albert has told Chris, there are “no judges or crimes here.” You can die however you want (car wrecks preferred), but whatever you do, do NOT kill yourself. You will end up in hell. This seems to be the number one rule (in a place we thought had no rules). Annie, left grieving after being abandoned by Chris for heaven, did not know this rule and has killed herself.

This sets up the adventure in the movie (as if being in heaven wasn't adventure enough) when Chris gets another guide (a “tracker” played by Max von Sydow) to travel with him to hell to rescue his wife. What we thought was a travelogue to the nether-world turns out to be a romance about “the guy who would choose hell over heaven” for the woman he loves. And does he save her? I wouldn't want to spoil it for you.

Chris asks Albert early on in the movie, “Where is God in all of this?” We might ask the same question. Albert answers, “He's up there, somewhere, shouting down that he loves us, wondering why we can't hear him. You think?” Yes, Albert, not only do I ‘think,’ I absolutely know. God is an afterthought in this movie. He is marginalized. In heaven, in the place where he should be front and center, he is off to the sidelines, “up there, somewhere.” The Son of God makes one brief appearance, as a ‘swear’ word, when Chris calls out, “Christ, when does it end?” Christ, who is the resurrection and life (John 11:25). Christ, who will be your judge at death (John 5:25-29).

Although a (mostly) beautiful place, the heaven in this movie is a mish-mash of everyone's theology. There is a bit of Buddha, there is a lot of Catholic purgatory, Dante is ever-present, and I could have sworn I got the hint of an Islamic virgin. But the real spoiler for me was the lie of reincarnation. And, to spoil it for you, too, that's the ending.

Like most non-Christian movies about a subject Christians care about, this movie is best viewed with a pair of scissors. For me, about 15 minutes of What Dreams May Come are worth seeing. Besides the first revelation of heaven (and maybe the fantasy of being at your own funeral), there are two scenes that I loved. First there is the scene where Chris is reunited with his dead dog. Then there is the scene where Annie is reunited with her dead son and daughter. What man could not hold back tears when being greeted by his long-lost friend? What woman could not keep from sobbing when seeing and embracing her beloved children again? Interesting fact: did you know that dogs will gather around you and lick your face when you are crying?

After greeting his dog in heaven, Chris says “Boy, I screwed up. I'm in dog heaven.” Shortly after that, he says, “Maybe I'm not in your heaven after all, girl. Maybe you're in mine!”

That's my dream, too.

What Dreams May Come — 1998 — Robin Williams, Annabella Sciorra, Cuba Gooding Jr., Max von Sydow — Directed by Vincent Ward

Back to — Movie Reviews