Return to Paradise 1998

Janet Maslin, New York Times: Though the clock ticks relentlessly enough to sustain the story's tension, the film finally seems to be a character study in search of a gripping plot. Read more

Kenneth Turan, Los Angeles Times: If it's to be experienced at all, Return to Paradise is best seen as a lively piece of pulp, not a profound exploration of the vagaries of the human soul. Read more

Paul Tatara, CNN.com: This is a major example of a good idea, one that could have worked, being submitted to a Hollywood tag-team makeover. Read more

Entertainment Weekly: Read more

James Berardinelli, ReelViews: The best performance in the film belongs to Anne Heche, who continues to impress with her range. Her work here is passionate, and she effectively conveys the inner conflict of a woman whose divided loyalties tear at her soul. Read more

Roger Ebert, Chicago Sun-Times: Like Sheriff and Tony, we're pulled both ways by the story: We want them to go back and save Lewis, but we're not exactly sure we'd do the same. That's the Prisoner's Dilemma in a nutshell. Read more

Bob Graham, San Francisco Chronicle: The real discovery ... is Vince Vaughn, who didn't make as much of a splash in Jurassic Park: The Lost World as he was expected to. Now he does. Read more

Geoff Andrew, Time Out: It's a painful prospect, to be sure, and Sheriff, in particular, insists he's no hero, but the next hour or so of handwringing conjures little suspense. Read more

David Rooney, Variety: Read more