istara I greatly enjoyed Unconditional Love (2002) while also being able to see why the film wasn't a commercial success. The problem is that rather than straddling genres, it attempts to be multiple genres. First, Kathy Bates is initially starring in a typically American Lifestyle movie of a middle-aged woman "finding herself" after her husband has a mid-life crisis.Then we move to the UK, where we're in a kind of Richard Curtis black comedy (at one point they even sing one of the songs from Four Weddings and a Funeral). Various famous British actors pop up in the same kinds of comedic cameos that one would expect in such films. This even includes Julie Andrews, twice calming down a crisis with "Getting To Know You" (why not "My Favourite Things"?!)Finally we return to the US, where we're in a sort of B-grade mystery thriller, sort of Hallmark Channel-does-Silence-of-the-Lambs. This still gets interspersed with comedic and surreal singing and dancing sequences, and then we're back to screaming/running/chasing with Rupert Everett in a glittery jacket being the most histrionic of the lot.Meredith Eaton, an actress of physically short stature, has an interesting role. She plays Kathy Bates' daughter, a woman with dwarfism, but her character's condition is alternately used to make a meaningful point about prejudice and diversity, and then for comedic effect. Does it work? I don't know. Sometimes it felt rather awkward.The biggest clash is really the American schmaltz versus the British black humour. I was reminded of Finding Your Feet (2017), a British comedy drama that also features a central character who is a middle aged woman suddenly dumped by her husband who has to find herself. That film has far more tragedy and poignancy than Unconditional Love, and is much more bittersweet than comedic, but it works much better.Perhaps being sharper simply enables a movie to be more sincere. Rupert Everett sniping about gay persecution is far more sympathetic and poignant than Kathy Bates schmaltzing about "unconditional love" and human relations.Unconditional Love ends with a huge singing performance that includes Barry Manilow. That possibly tells you more about this movie than anything else could.

jdandtex-338-717921 I was lucky enough to find a DVD copy in my local second hand store yesterday. Yay!!The story is offbeat and quirky.The cast is great, especially Meredith Eaton. She steals every scene she's in and what a beautiful lady she is too.Kathy Bates is one of the best actresses around. She's down to earth and believable. And what a nice surprise, the lady can sing very well.Rupert Everett is so good at comedy. But, he can play anything. I've liked Jonathan Pryce for years. It's nice to have something that I can listen to his singing. I have searched the internet, but I can't find where he has released and album unfortunately.It's just a gem that I can watch over and over and never get tired of.

susannealia This movie definitely hits the funny bone right on: make sure you have your popcorn and drink ready and are sitting comfortably before it begins, and be ready to be sad when you realise it's over... Kathy Bates as usual strikes all the top notes in her superlative role playing, and is fully matched by the rest of the cast let alone the excellent story and script they are playing out. Get ready to enjoy.The story is particularly poignant as it carries you across different cultures and social stratas both within US daily life, and also across the ocean in UK.. Along the way, it confronts plenty of stereo types from across society, picking holes and touching the pulse of where real people reside within their niches and clichés..

bw11 We loved this movie because it was so entertaining and off beat-- Not your usual Hollywood drivel.My husband had a Blockbuster coupon and passed on a string of new releases of violent Hollywood stuff. He was about to walk out when he saw this and decided to take a chance. There was only one copy -- and with some glitches in the DVD that we finally had to flip to wide screen version and then back to the full screen version to make it stop stalling. But it was worth it. Cathy Bates is so good and she was so perfect for the role. And she can sing too! If only Hollywood would learn from Independent film makers! Maybe we would go back to the real movies. But for now, we're sticking with off beat and really entertaining films like this one! Other examples we've enjoyed include: A Box Full of Moonlight, Pieces of April, Delivering Milo, The Celestine Prophesy. Most of the ones by Christopher Guest such as: Best in Show, For your Consideration, A Mighty Wind, and Waiting for Guffman