The film drags its feet uncertainly from beginning to end.
Comment
02/09/06
Heaven Can Wait (1978)
86
%
Tomatometer
How does the Tomatometer work 
Reviews Counted:29
Fresh:25
Rotten:4
Average Rating:7.1/10
Consensus: A throwback to the high-gloss screwball comedies of the 1940s, Heaven Can Wait beguiles with seamless production values and great comic relief from Charles Grodin and Dianne Cannon.
Runtime: 1 hr 41 mins
Genre: Comedies
Synopsis: When L.A. Rams quarterback Joe Pendleton (Beatty) is plucked from Earth too soon by an overzealous angel, he is sent back to Earth in another, older body. He struggles to regain his old spot in the... [More]
Starring: Warren Beatty, Julie Christie, James Mason, Jack Warden
Director: Warren Beatty, Buck Henry
Reviews for Heaven Can Wait
Top CriticIt may not have had quite the resonance of Beatty's earlier work, but Heaven Can Wait is a smart, likeable 1970s comedy with a heart.
05/24/03
Top CriticClick to read the article
03/26/09
Top CriticSupremely produced, this whimsical romantic comedy served as star vehicle for Julie Christie and especially Warren Beatty, who made an impressive co-directing debut with Buck Henry; the film deservedly won the Oscar for Art Direction.
07/26/08
No review available.
12/21/07
There are a few laughs from Grodin and Cannon, but Beatty and Christie are like 400-pound gorillas chasing a milkweed seed.
03/21/07
Top CriticIt's certainly likable enough and was a big hit when it came out, but one could hardly call it an auspicious artistic debut -- a crafty commercial entertainment with a certain amount of intelligence is more like it.
03/21/07
Frivolous and amusing in spots.
07/09/06
No review available.
10/09/05
No review available.
09/26/05
No review available.
07/25/05
There's nothing worse than a pushy narrative.
05/09/05
Top CriticNo review available.
04/26/05
A really enjoyable high concept comedy; better than the 2000 remake!
01/31/05
This is the kind of upbeat screwball comedy Hollywood used to do smoothly and well.
10/23/04
Top CriticNo review available.
09/30/04
No review available.
06/19/04
No review available.
03/09/04
Heaven Can Wait shines in almost every department: it in one of those rare movies that deserves to be seen again and again.
01/24/04
What’s Hot On RT
Other News
Fresh Links
Featured
RT on YouTube 
Subscribe to RT's YouTube channel and don't miss a second of our cracking video content.
RT on Twitter
Follow Rotten Tomatoes and join us as we tweet about the week's releases.
IGN RSS Feeds