1999, PG-13, 1 hr 42 minutes.Cast: Ben Affleck (Ben), Sandra Bullock (Sarah), Maura Tierney (Bridget).

The straight plot: Ben (Affleck) and Bridget (Tierney) are approaching their wedding day, but he has a bit of trouble in reaching Savannah, Ga. from New York. And then his travel companion is Sarah (Bullock). Will Ben choose love or infatuation?

Forces of Nature is the anti-"Love Boat". Nine out of ten people Ben meets are unhappily married or happily having an affair. Not too mention that Ben's best man is encouraging him to get as much sex as possible before being attached to the "ball and chain."

From the many reviews I've read, every critic has a different read on Forces, ranging from one star to three-and-a-half to a C from "Entertainment Weekly." But, like Patch Adams in late '98, this is one movie that defies critics and is a bonifide crowd pleaser; plenty of laughs, love and two very likeable stars in Affleck and Bullock.

Sure, the dialogue isn't in the league of Shakespeare in Love or Good Will Hunting, or even When Harry Met Sally, but there are many factors that make a movie worth seeing.

For instance, the cinematography and the many unique effects had me entranced. Two shots in particular caught my eye: 1) The way you could see each individual droplet of rain as Ben and Sarah run for cover in a storm, and 2) Ben and Bridget are isolated as people run for cover from an approaching hurricane and debris scatters in slow motion while they discover their "bubble".

Next, the music added something to Forces of Nature. Although one scene's score suggests a porno film, it otherwise fit perfectly in every town and situation, and made the movie more pleasurable.

Bullock, despite given repulsive makeup that is supposed to say "Hey, I'm a rebel", overcame that deficit to shine throughout. She is a joy to watch, and has an addictive personality that is very uplifting.

Affleck keeps getting better and has, for me, officially relegated best friend Matt Damon to "the other guy" status, reversing their status of a year ago. It may be only because Affleck has gotten more exposure in a few movies, but he's also more of an everyday kind of guy, as opposed to Damon's pretty-boy look, dimples and all.

Of course his character isn't perfect, as in an exchange between Bridget and her father in Forces:
Bridget: "You just don't like Ben because he's from New York and voted for Clinton."
Father: "Isn't that enough?" Yes, I think it is as well :)

I am in love (figuratively, not as a stalker) with Tierney. She is a joy to watch on screen, and has a subtle beauty, an adorableness that I prefer any day over a Pamela Anderson or Elizabeth Hurley-like "model of perfection." Tierney isn't given much to do in Forces, but she'll be in the limelight soon enough.

David Strickland, the actor on "Suddenly Susan" who committed suicide in mid-March, has a small role as Bridget's former boyfriend. His entrance was noticeable because as soon as he appeared on screen there was a buzz in the audience as friends whispered the facts to each other.

Many have criticized the ending, believing the director was taking them to another place and left the audience stranded. Not me. I enjoyed the ending, and agree with Affleck's choice, but I won't give it away. It was the right one to make.