Bentornato Dio!

This is a really wonderful film that is masterful in every way. George Burns joked that when they offered him this part that no one could have played it because no one was closer to God's age. However, he was nervous about playing it and consulted the greatest actors about how to do it. Let me explain this film, the two leads were one person (John Denver) who was well known as a singer but who had never acted before in his life and another (George) who at almost 80 had only one other acting credit (The Sunshine Boys). However, this unlikely duo made movie magic! It is a truly amazing accomplishment and a joy watching them together. This is a film that is as important today as it was when it came out almost a quarter of a century ago. We all need to realize God's love and his message and no one did a better job of giving that then George did in this wonderful film, especially in the end in the courtroom speech that he gives. This man had spent his life as just a comedian not as an actor, but he deserved another Oscar for his outstanding work in this wonderful film. Carl Reiner deserves kudos for his wonderful directing job and Terri Garr gives a great performance as the understanding wife as does Paul Sorvino as the corrupt evangilist (they picked a safe target). However, the cheers and handshakes belong to George Burns and John Denver alone!!!. They have both left us and we are the poorer for it, but I hope that both of them are having a wonderful time in Heaven!