**THE WACPINE OF ‘ALWAYS’**

WRITING: 4
ATMOSPHERE: 4
CHARACTERS: 5
PRODUCTION: 6
INTRIGUE: 3
NOVELTY: 5
ENJOYMENT: 3

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**The Good:**

John Goodman plays John Goodman in a film you'd expect to feature John Goodman playing John Goodman. He's neither bad nor particularly good, but he fits the part well.

Audrey Hepburn isn't up to much, but you have to give points for her final film performance, even if it's a small one.

The flying sequences and the forest fire sequence are directed with the usual flair and confidence we've come to expect from Mr Spielberg. Carefully chosen angles and great use of sound and visuals make these sequences exciting to watch.

The ghost sequences provide a break from the rules typical romantic dramedy storytelling and allow for some fine visual trickery, bonkers acting and fun storytelling, but that's about it.

Some minor emotional moments between Dreyfuss and Hunter provide the romantic touch a film like this one should have, but they are pretty rare.

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**The Bad:**

Always opens in the middle of a sequence and fails to satisfyingly introduce the main players and the setting. It's as if we arrive in the middle of the film. It’s a bizarre introduction, that doesn’t make me hooked to the film, the way most of Spielberg's films do.

There's nothing in the script or the performances that would warrant calling this a comedy; while some of the romantic elements are adorable and heart-warming, they're mostly pretty clichéd and superficial.

Steven Spielberg's first foray into the world of romantic comedy-dramas is a weird experience. The director's trademark escapist and magical visionary storytelling are never utilized fully here, so it feels like this film could have been directed by anybody.

The performances are all a bit meh. Richard Dreyfuss doesn't excite the way he does in Jaws and while Holly Hunter has her moments, she doesn't leave a lasting impression.

You know you're in trouble as a filmmaker when your audience loses interest 15 minutes into your film. That means something is wrong.

The ghastly elements are the best parts of Always, but they're so vague and slight on fantasy, and closer to whimsical, that they don’t help much to raise this film above the ordinary.

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**The Ugly:**

Two films in a row about the passion for flying. Am I sensing a new trend here?

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**WACPINE RATING: 4.29 / 10 = 2 stars**