This is billed as a romantic drama but is really more of a drama and a surprisingly good one at that. It follows a family where the mother is an alcoholic and how this affects her relationship with her husband and her children. They are an apparently ideal family and she is not the typical alcoholic portrayed in most movies. The film although 20 years old has not really dated and is as relevant now as it was back then. The acting from both leads Meg Ryan and Andy Garcia is excellent with maybe Garcia just shading the acting honours with a nicely understated performance. The supporting cast is strong with heartwarming performances from both the young girls and even an appearance from the late Phillip Seymour Hoffman. There are plenty of quite sad moments though you never feel that these have been manipulated. Although the ending is maybe a little predictable what goes before more than makes up for this. I had never heard of this film prior to watching it hence my apprehension prior to viewing it. It seems to me that this is one of those films that due maybe to it's subject matter is underrated. If you like a bit of emotional drama then you really can't go wrong with this film which is up there with the best of it's type. Highly recommended.

OK it is hard for me to see such a masterpiece with an average rating because these kind of performances don't come along everyday. Personally I think this picture should have been nominated for best film of the year. All the performances in the film were top notch even the kids. When I watch this movie, I almost feel like I am in the theater watching a play. The interaction is so intense and skillful. Andy Garcia also should have gotten just as much praise as Meg Ryan both performances were outstanding. Sometimes I think he gets overlooked because he's so hot but yes this man's acting was amazing especially in the main argument scene. In any case, so sickening when a film like this isn't recognized to the full extent of it's greatness. Such a powerful and beautiful contribution to the art of film.

Michael Green (Andy Garcia) and his wife, Alice (Meg Ryan) are living the good life in San Francisco. They are both professionals, they live in a lovely home, and they have two beautiful daughters (Tina Majorino and Mae Whitman). But, they also have a secret. Alice is a "closet" alcoholic, who is on the verge of showing it to the world and Michael is doing his best to cover for her to everyone. Things are complicated, for Alice seems happier when she is in the "party mood" and Michael loves her so much that he actually appears to relish his role as the one Alice calls on to put herself back together. Yet, even a vacation to Mexico does not help Alice find the self-happiness she needs to lose the bottle. Also, Alice injures herself at home, scaring the girls beyond measure and they are suffering from neglect, too. Therefore, Alice has to enter a "Betty Ford" type clinic. But, will Michael and Alice both like and love each other when Alice is sober? This is a great movie for its honest portrayal of the effects an alcoholic has on the family he or she loves and on the long climb out of the world of alcoholism. Alice and Michael are not really living the American dream but the American nightmare, because of Alice's need for one drink after another. Both Ryan and Garcia are truly wonderful in roles that call upon them to be both lovable and repugnant, at the same time. The other cast members, including Ellen Burstyn and the two lovely little girl-actresses, are also just perfect. Naturally, the settings in San Fran and Mexico are great, especially the Green's beautiful old house. Costumes, too, are very well-chosen and all other other productions values of direction, photography and story are most worthy, too. Then, too, the film also has great value as a movie to show the realities of alcoholism to any audience that could benefit from such a view. In summary, if you are a man or woman who loves movies that tell a tale well, with gorgeous stars, even if it might result in a few shed tears, this is a great choice. You might even pop it in when you need a "good cry", for it has wonderful cathartic elements.

There are times when seeing a quality film for the second time that it does not stack up as well as it did the first time it was viewed. More often, I enjoy the film a little more on the second viewing due to being able to pick up certain subtle aspects that were not as evident on the first go around and on a few occasions, I find a film much more rewarding, as was the case with this particular film. I saw the film in the theater when it was originally released and although I thought it was a fairly good film and the performances by the two stars, Meg Ryan and Andy Garcia, were of a high quality, I was somewhat disappointed in the overall production. It may have been related to my having anticipated a romance that was not based on as much heart-ache and depressing circumstances.I saw it again recently, slightly over a decade later, and was able to view it from a slightly different perspective. The material, dealing with alcohol addiction, is not ground-breaking but is presented in a slightly unique fashion. The film depicts the downward spiral of the addicted woman, but also examines all the tragic consequences forced upon those closest to her. It involves the audience in the tragic and depressing situations that are imposed on the spouse, children, family and friends of the person with the addiction. It has a somewhat unique aspect, in that it examines how those closest to the alcoholic can inadvertently contribute to the problem while attempting to help their loved one recover from the addiction. Although they may have the best of intentions, they can sometimes magnify the conditions related to the problem.I think an IMDb rating of between 4 and 9 would seem appropriate for this intense emotionally charged drama. I personally gave it a 7 out of 10 and would highly recommend it for viewers that are not in the market for light or humorous entertainment.