NO LOOKING BACK Reviewed by Jamie Peck
The movie takes place in a cold, grey, working-class New York town, beautifully photographed (especially in the opening sequence, set to Sheryl Crow's "Home") by Frank Prinzi. Claudia (Lauren Holly) has a simple life that seems to suit her well -- she spends days waiting tables at a local greasy spoon and nights with her live-in boyfriend Michael (rocker Jon Bon Jovi). But Claudia's ex Charlie (Burns), who upped and left her with a broken heart some time ago, suddenly resurfaces with hopes to pick up where they left off. It certainly doesn't help that Charlie and Michael were once best friends, and that the former's presence awakens an urge in Claudia to realize her dreams and follow them -- even if they include neither man.
While Burns the director and actor are fine, Burns the screenwriter is to blame for the movie's lack of ignition. Even though some of the dialogue is vintage Burns, No Looking Back truly goes nowhere; watching it is like listening to a piano player strike the same key over and over again. The skinny stories of "The Brothers McMullen" and "She's the One" look like "L.A. Confidential" by comparison. With the possible exception of Charlie (who's a regular S.O.B.), none of these characters are very interesting, so it's hard to get deeply involved in Claudia's dilemma, and we really need to for the movie to work. And at a slim 96 minutes, the movie feels too long, probably due to that distinct lack of involvement and the umpteen musical montages that interrupt the film every five minutes or so.
"No Looking Back" is, at the very least, an admirable performance piece. Holly gives a quiet, realistic spark to her first lead role; she is the truly is the "babe" that the entire cast always seems to refer to her as. Burns, who's cast himself as likeable cads in his other two films, shows range with the charmingly egotistic Charlie. Blythe Danner and "Spin City" co-stars Connie Britton and Jennifer Esposito do good work in various supporting parts. But perhaps most surprising of all is Bon Jovi, who has an acting career ahead of him if the music gig ever falls through. Speaking of which, his latest album is titled "Destination Anywhere," and anywhere is a better destination than the wasteland that "No Looking Back" finally occupies.
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