In 1995, writer/director Edward Burns wowed audiences and critics alike with his impressive debut film, "The Brothers McMullen." The next year he followed that with "She's The One," his second romantic comedy in which he also starred. With his third outing again in front of, and behind the camera, Burns delves this time into the world of serious, romantic drama.
He has once again succeeded in making a decent film, but while competent, "No Looking Back" offers few surprises and remains even-keeled throughout its hour and a half runtime. Although the main character's final life-changing decision is never a forgone conclusion, there's never a doubt that once her old boyfriend reappears he'll stir things up in this sleepy, routine town. What then follows is the obligatory confusion, crying and some yelling that stems from the old "two's company, three's a crowd" rule.
While the story itself is nothing particularly special, both Burn's direction and the performances he elicits from his cast are quite good. Burns perfectly captures a small coastal vacation town where the perpetual lack of change is accentuated by the dreary winter weather -- it even feels damp in the theater. This town is in need of some new blood, but it's so set in its ways that Charlie's appearance -- a native, but now a "stranger" -- doesn't elicit much of a reaction from anyone. Although Burns relies perhaps a bit too much on his soundtrack (featuring plenty of songs from Jersey native Bruce Springsteen) to create mood, the direction is aptly handled.
Burns is also good in front of the camera. As in his previous films, he looks very comfortable in his role and easily exudes that "lifelong best friend" quality that makes him not only easy to watch, but also to accept in most any role he plays. Being the multifaceted talent that he is, it's also nice to see no signs of him being a prima dona. While he could have chosen to play the "good" guy in the film, he opted for the "villain," the guy with less than stellar scruples. Although his is certainly a less than likeable character, Burns makes him the most interesting in this movie and easily fits into the role.
Rock singer turned actor Jon Bon Jovi ("Moonlight and Valentino") also proves he's a talent to be reckoned with as he also delivers a good performance. Playing the victim in this love triangle, Bon Jovi keeps his acting rather low-key, perfectly plays the part, and certainly doesn't suffer from looking like a rock star trying to be an actor like so many of his counterparts have done over the years.
Lauren Holly ("A Smile Like Yours") also gives a good performance as the woman whose spirit for life is rekindled by her old boyfriend's reappearance. Her character is believably written -- the woman still drawn to the guy who hurt her -- and Holly plays the role just right. Claiming that she doesn't want to "wake up ten years from now and ask 'what if,'" her character taps into a thought all of us have had at one moment or another. After seeing repetitive footage of her always bringing in the trash cans day after day, the sight of her deciding not to one day is symbolic of her decision to make a proactive change. Although at first her Hollywood glamour good looks make one think "here's an actress just playing down into a small-town waitress part," Holly quickly dispels that notion and becomes believable.
Despite the good performances, one only wishes there was a little more oomph to the story. While it's understood that the movie's intended to be a small, character-driven tale, its even-keeled approach nearly makes the film as boring as the town it portrays. Some of Burns' witty humor -- so abundant in his previous films -- could have been used to brighten things up and cut through the near melodramatic material.
The film isn't bad by any means, it's just uneventful. If not for the decent acting from the cast, it would come off as a run-of-the-mill romantic drama that would be quickly overlooked by most audiences. Although they might happen anyway, and it will probably be forgotten rather quickly, it's still a competent picture. We give "No Looking Back" a 5.5 out of 10.
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