Nearly a year later, reeling from his feelings of guilt and recovering from alcoholism, Buddy decides to pay a call to the man’s wife and children, to see if maybe he can help them. Inconveniently for both of them, the two are almost immediately attracted to each other. The chemistry between them is unmistakable, and as they fall in love Buddy finds it increasingly difficult to tell Abby (Gwynneth Paltrow) the truth about the role he unwittingly played in her husband’s death.

Bounceis a pleasant, intelligent alternative to the standard, three-hankie romantic melodrama. The thing that makes this picture stand out is the fact that the characters seem real. They’re somewhat beaten down by circumstances and not entirely willing to confront reality, but they’re striving for happiness nevertheless, just like the rest of us. Writer/director Don Roos has fashioned a gentle, surprisingly nuanced movie, considering that his last picture was the very sharp, acidic The Opposite of Sex.