Directed by Luis Mandoki, When A Man Loves A Woman starts with the giddy, clever, and sexy initial encounter between Michael (Andy Garcia), an airline pilot, and Alice (Meg Ryan), a high school guidance counselor. After marrying, they settle down comfortably in San Francisco to raise their two small daughters. Alice tries hard to keep the marriage together by looking good and being fun and sexually wild. On a Mexican holiday, Michael acknowledges his concern over Alice's increasing drinking problem. She promises to stop but starts again once they return home. After slapping her daughter and then falling through a glass shower door in a drunken stupor, Alice agrees to enter a detox program. Michael takes over the household duties and Alice flourishes in rehab. In her new sober role, Alice is less dependent on Michael and she is stronger and more assertive. The rest of the film deals with the rebalancing of Michaels and Alices relationship. Overall, When A Man Loves A Woman is a very good and effective film about substance abuse, co-dependency, and the breakdown of family.
Jesse Gumbarge is editor and chief blogger at JarvisCity.com - He loves old-school horror films and starting pointless debates. You can reach out at: JesseGumbarge@JarvisCity.com
