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Can't Be Heaven

  • 1999
  • PG
  • 1h 34m
IMDb RATING
5.6/10
503
YOUR RATING
Ralph Macchio and Michelle Trachtenberg in Can't Be Heaven (1999)
Home Video Trailer from A-Pix Entertainment
Play trailer2:11
2 Videos
2 Photos
ComedyDramaFamilyRomance

Will 13 year old Danny and Julie become more than friends? Danny gets a rival but gets help from Hubbie the ghost.Will 13 year old Danny and Julie become more than friends? Danny gets a rival but gets help from Hubbie the ghost.Will 13 year old Danny and Julie become more than friends? Danny gets a rival but gets help from Hubbie the ghost.

  • Director
    • Richard Friedman
  • Writer
    • Dario Fagnani
  • Stars
    • Bryan Burke
    • Diane Ladd
    • Ralph Macchio
  • See production info at IMDbPro
  • IMDb RATING
    5.6/10
    503
    YOUR RATING
    • Director
      • Richard Friedman
    • Writer
      • Dario Fagnani
    • Stars
      • Bryan Burke
      • Diane Ladd
      • Ralph Macchio
    • 10User reviews
    • 1Critic review
  • See production info at IMDbPro
  • Videos2

    Forever Together
    Trailer 2:11
    Forever Together
    Forever Together
    Trailer 2:12
    Forever Together
    Forever Together
    Trailer 2:12
    Forever Together

    Photos1

    View Poster

    Top cast85

    Edit
    Bryan Burke
    • Danny
    Diane Ladd
    Diane Ladd
    • Nona Gina
    Ralph Macchio
    Ralph Macchio
    • Hubbie
    Rachel Ticotin
    Rachel Ticotin
    • Maggie
    Michelle Trachtenberg
    Michelle Trachtenberg
    • Julie
    Jamie Williams
    Jamie Williams
    • Phil
    Michael Galeota
    Michael Galeota
    • Archie
    Matt McCoy
    Matt McCoy
    • Mike
    Annie Abbott
    Annie Abbott
    • Miss Wisser
    Rachel Robinson
    Rachel Robinson
    • Miss Viola
    Garry Marshall
    Garry Marshall
    • Pawn Shop Broker
    Kaley Cuoco
    Kaley Cuoco
    • Teresa Powers
    Shayna Fox
    Shayna Fox
    • Shirley
    Siri Baruc
    Siri Baruc
    • Young Nona Gina
    Michael Alaimo
    • Father Micelli
    • (as Mike Alaimo)
    Bryan A. Robinson
    • Edgar
    • (as Bryan Robinson)
    Ralph Manza
    Ralph Manza
    • Anzio
    Pat Li
    • Japanese Woman
    • Director
      • Richard Friedman
    • Writer
      • Dario Fagnani
    • All cast & crew
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

    User reviews10

    5.6503
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    10

    Featured reviews

    9Tensman

    A Sweet Surprise

    I started watching "Can't be Heaven" just to see what Ralph Macchio looks like these days, and was gradually hooked into this latter-day "Wonder Years" story line. This film is a refreshing escape from the typical hard-pounding hip hop garbage that dominates teen-theme films today. Ralph Macchio offers a fine, understated performance while Diane Ladd brings realism and feeling to a role often wrought by overacted stereotype. By the end of the film, it feels all right to believe that Danny (Bryan Burke) can burn on the sax like jazz legend Red Holloway, who provides the smooth Chicago sound. Jazz fans will notice that Macchio's character, Hubbie, is also a jazz man from the "Windy City". "Can't be Heaven" is truly a sweet surprise, stocked with a surprisingly familiar cast. Pick up some goodies from your local Italian bakery and settle in for some smiles and tears, all worth the effort.
    10cob-2

    Can't Be Heaven is a great heartwarming story about love that all ages will enjoy.

    Danny is falling in love with his best friend Julie, but isn't sure what to do about it. Danny recruits a mentor to help him win Julie's affections, Hubbie Darling, a jazz sax player from the 30's who he happened to meet in the cemetery while visiting his father's grave. Hubbie has his problems though, as he has been dead for 60 years and is refusing to go to heaven until he can be joined by his one true love who is still alive. Hubbie offer's Danny advise and gives him suggestions on how to win Julie over, but what worked in the way of romance in the 30's may not have the same effect in the 90's. Danny finds himself nervous around Julie when she starts hanging out with Archie, the handsome new boy in the class. With Hubbie's advise, he is not only losing Julie's love, but he's getting beat up by the new boy who is also after Julie's affections. But Danny persists, he trusts Hubbie's instincts. Hubbie teaches Danny to play a love song he wrote for his sweetheart, but never had the chance to play it for her. Danny learns the song and plays it beautifully. At a school dance Danny finds a way to show Julie how he feels towards her, he plays the sax which touches Julie who then starts to realize that she feels more for Danny the she thought. But Danny's mettle is tested when he has to defend Julie from a physical attack by Archie. Danny barely wins the fight, but he for the first time asserts himself for Julie. Later, Danny plays the song for Hubbie in the cemetery, Danny's grandmother hears the music and follows it. There in the cemetery, she see's Hubbie. We learn that it is Danny's grandmother Hubbie has been waiting for. Hubbie shows Danny that when two people belong together, nothing can keep them apart, not even death.
    10shotlist1

    A really cute film that deserves a lot of credit...

    My kids loved "Can't be Heaven." This is a very underrated, very touching, and very cute film that really is what family filmmaking is about. This one will definitely make you cry it's so heartwarming. Ralph Macchio rocks!
    stregga

    A cute movie

    I only saw this movie a few days ago on cable and I think its OK.Its a cute little film that kids would enjoy.Its all about a boy called Danny,who is falling in love with his best friend,Julie but is having trouble telling her how he feels.It gets worse when a new boy(Archie)joins their class at school and Julie falls for him.One day,Danny is visiting his father's grave,showing him a tune he is learning to play on his sax,when he meets Hubbie,a dead sax player from the 1930's.Hubbie is a ghost waiting for his girlfriend so they can go to Heaven. Hubbie teaches Danny to play the sax well and he also teaches him a few things about love.I do agree with the person who said it might have been better if the kids were older and I also find Julie a bit annoying.All in all though this is an OK movie and I'll give it two out of five stars.
    1chuckydorn

    Can't believe they found funding for this!

    I truly don't know how or why they made this movie. I suppose to see if they could get away with it. Let's just say that the acting and editing are horrible in this movie. Not to mention the writing. The story is a good idea, but probably would have worked better with children of an older age (instead of 12). This is more of a movie for younger (I mean really younger) adults and shouldn't be watched by anyone who has passed puberty. The only thing that made this watchable was the performance by Ralph Macchio, who plays a dead sax player. Even he can't pull this thing out of the muck though. I strongly recommend that you don't waste the money on this garbage.

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    Related interests

    Will Ferrell in Anchorman: The Legend of Ron Burgundy (2004)
    Comedy
    Mahershala Ali and Alex R. Hibbert in Moonlight (2016)
    Drama
    Drew Barrymore and Pat Welsh in E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial (1982)
    Family
    Ingrid Bergman and Humphrey Bogart in Casablanca (1942)
    Romance

    Storyline

    Edit

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Goofs
      When Danny buys a rose for Julie at a Japanese flower shop, a sprig of Baby's Breath is tied to it. Later as he stands by a tree watching Archie give Julie a big bouquet, the rose has a fern tied to it.
    • Quotes

      Phil: Ahhh, the lovely Julie Ziff.

      Julie: Creep.

      Phil: That's good, I find brevity attractive.

      Julie: See ya, Danny.

      Phil: Goodbye, Gorgeous.

      Julie: You make my puke... want to puke!

      Phil: I'm flushed with passion!

      Julie: Ugghh!

      [she leaves]

      Danny: You're such an idiot!

      Phil: Oh, I knew that before you did, my friend. Just invite me to the wedding.

      [to Nona]

      Phil: He's in love, you know. But he's too dumb to figure it out.

      Nona Gina: Ah, wise-uh boy!

    • Connections
      Features Star Fox 64 (1997)
    • Soundtracks
      Danny's Quest
      By Jeff Marsh

      Performed by Keith Flax

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    FAQ1

    • Chapter Headings, a semi-official version, v1.00:

    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • December 5, 1999 (United States)
    • Country of origin
      • United States
    • Language
      • English
    • Also known as
      • Forever Together
    • Filming locations
      • Los Angeles, California, USA
    • Production companies
      • Charles O'Brien Productions
      • Unapix Entertainment Productions
      • World International Network (WIN)
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Box office

    Edit
    • Budget
      • $2,000,000 (estimated)
    See detailed box office info on IMDbPro

    Tech specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      • 1h 34m(94 min)
    • Color
      • Color
    • Sound mix
      • Stereo

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