Forever Lulu (2000 film)
Forever Lulu (also known as Along for the Ride) is a 2000 American romantic comedy film directed by John Kaye starring Melanie Griffith, Penelope Ann Miller and Patrick Swayze.
| Forever Lulu | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Directed by | John Kaye |
| Produced by | Boaz Davidson Abra Edelman Diane Isaacs John Thompson |
| Written by | John Kaye |
| Starring | Melanie Griffith Penelope Ann Miller Patrick Swayze |
| Music by | Serge Colbert |
| Cinematography | Dion Beebe |
| Edited by | Alain Jakubowicz |
| Distributed by | Artisan Entertainment |
Release date | July 7, 2000 |
Running time | 99 minutes |
| Country | Germany, United States |
| Language | English |
Plot
Ben and Lulu were one time college sweethearts who shared an intense passionate affair that circled around Lulu's untreated mental health condition, a condition which eventually leads to her hospitalisation and their separation.
Now Ben is a successful professional writer in a personally distant relationship with his wife Claire. Lulu leaves her treatment facility and seeks out a reluctant Ben to reveal that fifteen years ago they had a child whom she placed in adoption. Determined to meet him on his fifteenth birthday, Lulu asks Ben to join her on a cross country road trip to find their son. Bound at first by his need to protect Lulu from herself, Ben's uncertainty about the free-spirited Lulu is replaced with tender memories of their love affair and her vulnerable health.
As they journey, Ben's current life is shared through Claire, who has flown out to intercept the pair. Tensions between the three culminate with Claire telling Lulu about Ben and Claire's son who died the year before. A shaken Lulu calls to Ben, with Claire present, to open up about his son who died and the son they are about to meet. All three characters connect, and in the process, Ben rediscovers his heart.
Cast
- Melanie Griffith - Lulu McAfee
- Penelope Ann Miller - Claire Clifton
- Patrick Swayze - Ben Clifton
- Joseph Gordon-Levitt - Martin Ellsworth
- Richard Schiff - Jerome Ellsworth
- Annie Corley - Millie Ellsworth
- Lee Garlington - Linda Davis
- Michael J. Pollard - Hippie
- Ryan Bollman - Freddie