Mr. Destiny

Mr. Destiny
Theatrical release poster
Directed by	James Orr
Produced by	Laurence Mark Jim Cruickshank James Orr Susan B. Landau
Written by	James Orr Jim Cruickshank
Starring	James Belushi Linda Hamilton Jon Lovitz Hart Bochner and Michael Caine
Music by	David Newman
Cinematography	Alex Thomson
Editing by	Michael R. Miller
Distributed by	Touchstone Pictures
Release date(s)	October 12, 1990
Running time	110 min.
Country	United States
Language	English
Budget	$19 million
Box office	$15,379,253

Mr. Destiny is a 1990 comedy film starring James Belushi. Other actors in this film included Linda Hamilton, Jon Lovitz, Michael Caine, Courteney Cox, and Rene Russo.

Plot

The story begins on "the strangest day" of Larry Burrows (James Belushi) life consisting of a series of comic and dramatic misadventures. Larry, who blames all of his life's problems on the fact that he struck out during a key moment of a high school baseball game, wishes he had done things differently. His wish is granted by a guardian angel-like figure named Mike (Michael Caine), and appears at various times as a bartender, a cab driver, and so on. Larry soon discovers that Mike has transferred Larry into an alternate reality in which he had won the pivotal high school game. He now finds himself rich and (within his company) powerful, and married to the boss's (Bill McCutcheon) sexy daughter Cindy Jo Bumpers (Rene Russo). At first, his new life seems perfect, but he soon begins to miss his best friend Cliff Metzler (Jon Lovitz) and wife Ellen (Linda Hamilton) from his previous life; he also discovers that his alternate self has created many enemies, like Jewel Jagger (Courteney Cox), and as Larry's problems multiply, he finds himself wishing to be put back into his old life.

Cast

• James Belushi — Larry Joseph Burrows: The film's protagonist. A normal guy with an ordinary life who wishes it to be different, and is granted that wish and becomes president of the company with a big house.
• Linda Hamilton — Ellen Jane Burrows/Robertson: Larry's loving wife in the normal reality. She is the head of the labor union. In the alternate reality, she looks at Larry with much disdain.
• Michael Caine — Mike the Bartender/Mr. Destiny: A bartender and guardian angel like character who is responsible for showing Larry what his life would be like if things had been different.
• Jon Lovitz — Clip Metzler: Larry's life long best friend. Is shown to be a prankster and a goof-off. In the alternate reality, Clip is suffering from low self-esteem and is suicidal.
• Hart Bochner — Niles Pender: The film's antagonist. The head of Larry's department at work, who schemes and plots to take over the company.
• Bill McCutcheon — Leo Hansen: The owner of the company Larry works for, an old but very nice man. He is shown to be a bit absent minded at times.
• Rene Russo — Cindy Jo Bumpers/Burrows: Leo Hansen's attractive daughter. In the alternate reality, she is Larry's wife.
• Jay O. Sanders — Jackie Earle Bumpers, a.k.a. Cement Head: An ex-football player who is married to Cindy Jo and is president of the company Larry works for. He is neither seen nor mentioned in the alternate reality.
• Maury Chaykin — Guzelman: A contractor who is reluctant to finish paving Larry and Ellen's driveway.
• Pat Corley — Harry Burrows: Larry's father who works in the warehouse of the company Larry works for. In the normal reality he is shown to be totally faithful to Larry's mother. In the alternate reality, it is mentioned that he is divorced from Larry's mother and dates younger women.
• Douglas Seale — Boswell: Larry's personal servant in the alternate reality.
• Courteney Cox — Jewel Jagger: The forklift operator in the normal reality. Is shown to have a dark side which becomes more evident in the alternate reality, with whom Larry finds out he has been having an affair with.
• Doug Barron — Lewis Flick: Accomplice to Niles Pender, though he is shown to not be quite as cold-hearted as Niles.
• Jeff Weiss — Ludwig: Larry's chauffeur in the alternate reality
• Jeffrey Pillars - Duncan: Tow Truck driver.

Filming

Portions of the film were filmed in Winston-Salem, North Carolina, using the baseball team from Richard J. Reynolds High School. The office building is the former headquarters of the R. J. Reynolds Tobacco Company.

External links

• Mr. Destiny at the Internet Movie Database
• Mr. Destiny at AllRovi