Reese Witherspoon plays ambitious medical intern Elizabeth, who
regularly clocks in 20 hour days at the hospital. Her work is her
life, much to the chagrin of her sister Abby, who is married, with
kids, and constantly attempting to get Elizabeth to go out more.
When Abby finally succeeds in setting up a blind date for her
sister, Elizabeth has an accident en route while driving to meet
the mystery man, and the stage is set for love.
David (Mark Ruffalo) has been apathetically searching for a new
apartment in the cutthroat San Francisco housing market, while
attempting to overcome his wifes death two years ago. When he
finally finds the perfect place, nothing is going to make him
leave, and this includes the blonde control freak (Elizabeth) who
suddenly shows up while hes busy vegetating. She claims the
apartment is hers, and it becomes ever clearer that Elizabeth
doesnt remember her past, and shows irrefutable signs of being a
ghost. David signs on to help her solve her own mystery, and the
the two grow closer even as it becomes ever clearer that theyll
never be able to be together.
The chemistry between Witherspoon and Ruffalo breathes life into
the well-trod terrain of the ghost love story, while NAPOLEON
DYNAMITES Jon Heder almost steals the show as a bookstore worker
with "the Gift." The slapstick humor resulting from Davids
conversations with his "invisible" companion is hilarious--in one
standout scene, David saves a mans life as Elizabeth talks him
through the task. The ultimate message about the power of love and
wisely-used time gives added resonance to the tale.