TIL THERE WAS YOU

In TIL THERE WAS YOU, the lives of Gwen (Jeanne Tripplehorn) and Nick (Dylan McDermott) intersect periodically over the years, without the two ever meeting. Their lives finally become entangled when Gwen and Nick find themselves battling over Nick’s plans to demolish Gwen’s apartment building.

Gwen is emotionally distraught over being single and seeks a Prince Charming to sweep her off her feet. The beautiful setting of Gwen’s apartment building, with trickling fountains and falling blossoms, symbolizes the romance she seeks in her life. A subplot concerns the shallow relationship between Nick and Francesca (Sarah Jessica Parker), who plays a “Brady Bunch” type, self-centered, manipulative sex kitten. Also explored is the romantic relationship between Gwen and a career-absorbed city councilman, Jon (Craig Bierko), whom she knew from elementary school. Both relationships are stereotypical, sex-centered and noncommittal.

TIL THERE WAS YOU is so poorly written it spells out every subtlety. For example, in an attempt to show the contrast between the romantic Gwen and the practical Nick, Gwen literally stumbles when she enters a metallic, contemporary restaurant designed by Nick.

Inexplicably, when the characters encounter stressful situations, they bond by smoking cigarettes to find relief from the tension. While this is meant as a comical moment, the smoking fails as humor in this day of widespread lung cancer and government crackdowns on the tobacco industry. Another stab at humor that falls short is the admission by Gwen’s father (Michael Tucker) that he never loved her mother, despite her romantic tales of how they met.

On the positive side is the sense of community among the residents of Gwen’s apartment building. Gwen grows close to one elderly neighbor and treats her compassionately, even as the neighbor shows signs of dementia.

The chance encounters in the movie are attributed, unfortunately, to an unexplained “life force,” instead of to God. Sadly, the only religious reference in the movie is used as a point of humor. The fact that Gwen’s mother is video dating is described as “one of the signs in the Bible that the world is coming to an end.” Furthermore, there is the additional anti-biblical statement that some people can’t be forgiven. While the movie correctly verbalizes that being married isn’t necessarily the answer to Gwen’s problems, it stubbornly insists that a romantic relationship, instead of God’s love, is the balm to soothe life’s woes.