Christian Slater

Marisa Tomei

Rosie Perez

Kyle Secor

Willie Garson

Gary Groomes

James Cada

Claudia Wilkens

Pat Clemons

Lotis Key

Vanessa Hart

Charley Bartlett

Vincent Kartheiser

Wendy Feder

Nancy Marvy

Paul Douglas Law

Joshua Schaefer

Marquetta Senters

Joe Minjares

Joe Schmit

John Beasley

Steve Cochran

Sally Wingert

Richard Grusin

Buffy Sedlachek

Tom Sierchio

Aaron Kjenaas

Isabell O'Connor

Allen Hamilton

Kay Bonner Nee

Lia Rivamonte

Greg Sain

Margaret McGraw

John Paul Gamoke

Joel Edwards

David Fleming

Robert Malone

Tony Bill

Marci Liroff

Jack Gill

Cliff Eidelman

Jost Vacano

Mia Goldman

Helen Buck Bartlett

J. Boyce Harman Jr.

Comedy

Drama

Romance

love

tragedy

orphan

baboon

movies

My Movies

Planned

1990 - 2023

New Year's

list0

MovieLens[:10K]

Movies to Watch

Movies I've seen

50vote-count-2.0rating

Watched

mia list

Watched List

70 Removal

Ticket Date Night

Films [HD]---[U-V]

Movies

love story movies

Untamed Heart

Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer

United States of America

***Moving portrait of an outcast, plus cutie Marisa Tomei***  

Released in 1993, "Untamed Heart" tells the story of Caroline (Marisa Tomei) who works the night shift at a Minneapolis diner. She's a cute and likable young woman but, for some reason, is unable to maintain the romantic interest of the guys she dates. The answer to her love problems turns out to be right under her nose in the form of the diner's quiet dishwasher/janitor, Adam (Christian Slater).

"Untamed Heart" is a must for fans of Marisa Tomei and the romance between Caroline and Adam works, although their sexual union is premature IMHO, but real-time has to be condensed into a 102-minute film so I guess it can be overlooked.

What struck me most about this film, aside from Marisa, was the character of Adam. He's an outcast; he doesn't fit with the crowd; he's quiet and mysterious in a misfit type of way; he's an easy target for people to mock; he's content to adore Caroline from a distance; his love for her doesn't change as she keeps making mistakes trying to find someone to love; he secretly acts as her guardian angel and doesn't care about getting credit.

Why is Caroline attracted to such a person? Because "opposites attract." We're naturally attracted to people that have what we lack and vice versa. Caroline is open, talkative and comfortable with practically any social setting; Adam isn't. Adam is aloof, meditative and unconcerned about fitting in —  qualities Caroline lacks.

You'll see people like Adam in real life if you open your eyes. At a local restaurant I sometimes catch a glimpse of one of the kitchen workers, whether taking a smoke break outside or whatever. He's in his mid-30s, maybe older, obviously intelligent with a striking appearance, but he's quiet and aloof from the people around him, with an air of mystery. This is a person, like Adam in the film, who doesn't fit into society's mold. College doesn't work for him despite his intelligence, nor does a conventional job; he just does what he has to in order to live.

The film is very successful at bringing to life this type of outcast in Adam. I found it quite moving because I understand and can relate.

Not everything in the story works, however, which is why I knock off a star in my rating. For instance, it isn't even remotely believable that Adam would be able to secretly break into someone’s house and do what he does while the people are sleeping. Dumb. What were the writers thinking? 

The film was shot on location in NE Minneapolis.

GRADE: B

English

Untamed Heart Theater Trailer

Untamed Heart

He doesn't make sense. She doesn't make sense. Together they make sense.

Videos

Cast

Reviews

Wuchak

Recommendations

Similar Movies