Hyperbolic, epic, screeching disintegrations are the spine of this soppy melodrama, the winner of which is the eternally - slumming Tom Wilkinson, cast as a cold fish for being a grown - up in what used to be an adolescent coming - of - age set - up (Michael does everything short of lifting a boombox
over his head to win back his lady fair): a grown - up with a
normal speaking
voice, a reluctance to feel sorry for himself, and a paucity of Byronic one - whiners.