Save your money for something good and enjoyable

Good story, Not enough for a whole film

This is a small, humorous movie in some ways, but it has a huge heart. What a nice experience.

The joyful confection is coated in a sparkly gloss, bright enough to gleam from the darkest, most cynical corners.

I am giving this movie a 5 out of 10 only because of the tremendous acting of the entire cast, particularly Sandra Bullock and Mae Whitman who was only 8 or 9 when this movie was made.I made the mistake of thinking this was a romantic comedy going in but it is actually a romantic drama. I should have shut it off within the first thirty seconds. The opening was just absolutely ridiculous and I hate plots that involve infidelity, especially when it is cliché and poorly done like this. I really want to know the real life statistics of women whose best friends are sleeping with their husbands. And like--did he agree to tell her that way? Very unclear and stupid.Wow, and could they have picked more unattractive out of date names for the two main characters? Birdie and Bernice? Jeez! The film itself seemed like it was from the 40s instead of the 90s. Was that intentional? I found myself hating every single one of the characters except Sandra Bullock's. They were all so hard on her after the humiliation and betrayal she had faced. They seemed to all expect her to just suck it up, shrug off the human feelings she was experiencing and just be a damn mom. They wouldn't let her act like the victim, even though she WAS the victim.Thirty minutes in, I almost shut it off again but I hate to not finish a movie. The only scenes that moved me at all and made me glad I watched it were the two scenes with she and her father. I thought it was beautiful that the only person in her family or life who truly gave her the support that she needed was someone with dementia who could only offer her a smile and a dance. He didn't tell her any of the things she "needed" to hear, he just listened quietly and let her get it all off her chest. And he seemed to be the one who finally snapped her out of it toward the end when he was looking at the pic of Bernice and mistook it for her. He couldn't remember anything, but he remembered how happy and vibrant his daughter used to be and this seemed to finally ignite the realization in her as well. But everything else was just garbage in my opinion.What was the deal with her mother stuffing dead animals? I am usually good with symbolism but that one really threw me for a loop. And what exactly was the point of the cousin Travis being there? Having been abandoned by Birdie's sister who we never even see and who doesn't even come to the funeral in the end? And it seemed to imply that the grandmother had been a crappy mother to them? And now she was making it up by being a great grandmother? But they never really clarified. I could see her random death coming from a mile away too, was that supposed to be subtle? I guess they needed a reason for Bill to come home and for Birdie to wind up with both kids in the end? Very convoluted and strange.I was disappointed by my reaction to this movie too because I have been hearing great things about it for so long and I love Sandra Bullock. I usually love Harry Connick Jr too but even he could not save this movie. I understand the message of the movie...that even in the depths of despair, hope can still float to the top and rise above. But blegh I knew that without having to sit through this painfully boring movie.Don't take my word for it though, there are clearly many people who love this movie and it touched their lives. I think if you just had a terrible breakup/divorce or if someone in your family just died, this would be a great movie to help lift your spirits. But if you are already in a great mood and looking for a good movie to watch, do NOT let this painful movie bring you down with it.

(Credit IMDb) Birdee Calvert must choose between her morals and her heart after her husband divorces her and a charming young man, who her daughter disapproves of, comes back into her life.Even when Bullock makes the laziest romantic comedies, I usually find plenty to enjoy about them. Hope Floats is one of the very few movies that I don't care for of Bullock's. It lacks laughter, moving moments, and overall enjoyment. The first 40 minutes or so involves nothing but Sandra Bullock moping and feeling sorry for herself. It moved as slow as molasses and I got bored easily. Her character predictably turns around, but the journey isn't worth the reward. I didn't really care about any of the characters, aside from Beatrice. Mae Whitman gives an adorable performance as Bullock's kid, showing plenty of poise and maturity for her age. There is a really weird opening that feels like a Jerry Springer show with how Bullock gets dumped in this movie. Connick Jr. is rather bland as the love interest. I thought he was rather smug myself. Bullock tries, but she isn't enough. This movie is predictable and thoroughly average. If you want a good romantic film from Bullock, check out While You Were Sleeping, Lake House, among others5.1/10

Sandra Bullock, Harry Connick, Jr., and Gena Rowlands star in "Hope Floats," a 1998 film directed by Forest Whitaker.Bullock, who 13 years ago looks exactly as she does now, plays Birdee Pruitt, a small town beauty queen and cheerleader who married the star of the football team, Bill (Michael Pare) and left for the big city. They have a daughter, Bernice (Mae Whitman). When Birdee is invited on a talk show, she is led to believe it's for a makeover. However, it's a Jerry Springer type show, and when she gets there, her best friend tells her that she's been having an affair with Birdee's husband - and they're in love. Bill verifies it.Angry and hurt, Birdee packs up her daughter and moves back to Texas with her outspoken taxidermist mother (Gena Rowlands). An old flame (Harry Connick Jr.) reappears, but Birdee is unable to move forward. She's in love with her husband and wants him back.This film seems to have low scores on IMDb, giving validation to my theory that a) reviewers on IMDb are mostly men; and b) young men; who c) like action, special effects, futuristic, and science fiction films."Hope Floats" is actually a very sweet movie with lovely performances from everyone involved. Bullock is warm and likable as a depressed woman who comes back to town in disgrace and has to face up to people she wasn't particularly nice to in high school. Connick is handsome and charming. Rowlands does a terrific job as Birdee's confident and sometimes overbearing mother who deeply loves her daughter and granddaughter. Mae Whitman as the child Bernice is fantastic as a hurt little girl waiting for her daddy to take her home.Some of the best scenes occur when Birdee visits her demented father in a nursing home.I thought this was an effective film. No bombs, no violence, just some poignant real life - a single mom, a father with dementia, and what it's like to go home and start over.I love films like "Speed," "Inception," "Salt" and films of the classic era. There's room for all kinds of films, and there is room for an actress with the warmth and charm of Sandra Bullock. If you're not a fan, skip it. If you are, you'll love it.

I can't help but wonder if we were all watching the same film. The opinions are so different. I guess people either like it a lot, or hate it. Me - I loved it! It's worth watching just to see the scene between Berdie and Romana in the bathroom when Berdie comes home drunk and tells just how her husband leaving her makes her feel. Perhaps those who didn't like and couldn't relate to this movie never had an experience like that. Good for them. But, trust me, those of us who have had this experience understand exactly how Berdie felt - she expressed our feelings for us - perhaps better than we could have. To watch her character's development gives hope to many of us. And Harry Connick as Justin - well - one review said we'd all probably like to have our own Justin. I totally agree! I particularly like Berdie's speech to her husband after the funeral when she told him that she had already gotten the best part of him, their daughter, and that what's left over didn't look so good. This film helps us to understand the deeper feelings of people in various situations. And does a good job of it. Great movie!