Year: 2000
Runtime: 103 min
Language: English
Director: Betty Thomas
After a car accident on her sister's wedding day, Gwen Cummings is faced with a difficult decision: jail time or entering a rehabilitation program. She chooses rehab, but proves resistant to the program’s methods and initially refuses to confront her underlying addiction, even as her actions have serious repercussions for those around her.
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As Sandra Bullock stumbles out of bed on a leisurely Saturday morning, she grapples with the aftermath of a wild night spent with her boyfriend Jasper. The fun quickly dissipates as she realizes she’s late for her older sister’s wedding. In a frantic attempt to salvage the day, she starts drinking heavily, arriving at the reception just as the situation turns chaotic.
In a stunning display of clumsiness, Sandra transforms the celebration into a comedic disaster, culminating in a disastrous cake incident and an unintended joyride that ends with her limo crashing into a house. As she faces the consequences of her actions, she finds herself confined to “Serenity Glen,” a rehabilitation center for 28 days, serving her time in a different way.
At first, resistant to the center’s unorthodox therapies, Sandra gradually discovers comfort in the presence of her unexpected roommate—a 17-year-old recovering addict who has navigated the peaks and valleys of rehab life. Jasper makes sporadic visits, bringing with him not just memories but also pills, alcohol, and even an engagement ring, causing Sandra to reflect on her troubling choices.
A brief spark of romance with a fellow resident, a baseball player who is also striving for sobriety at Serenity Glen, hints at potential connection, but ultimately, it’s interrupted by Jasper’s ill-considered visit. The atmosphere becomes heavy when a cloth doll arrives for Sandra’s roommate, symbolizing a looming tragedy that ultimately leads to her demise.
Upon completing her time at rehab, Sandra must confront her rocky relationship with Jasper, who remains entrenched in his old habits while she strives for a brighter future. In a journey of personal growth, Sandra emerges from her struggles as a more resilient and insightful person, prepared to embrace a new chapter in her life.
The film wraps up on a positive note, featuring Sandra walking through town with newfound confidence, her gaze meeting that of another rehabilitation graduate in a local flower shop, a serendipitous encounter that blossoms into a warm and reassuring reunion.
Last Updated: November 16, 2024 at 20:06
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