The Accidental Tourist is a 1988 American drama film. Directed by Lawrence Kasdan, with an Academy Award nominated score by John Williams, the film's screenplay was adapted by Kasdan and Frank Galati from the novel of the same name by Anne Tyler. One of the most acclaimed films of 1988, it was nominated for several awards including four Academy Awards. The cast includes William Hurt, Kathleen Turner, Geena Davis and Bill Pullman.

Plot

Macon Leary is a Baltimore, Maryland writer of travel guides for reluctant business travelers. After the killing of his 12 year old son, Ethan, during a shooting at a fast-food restaurant, he and his wife Sarah find their marriage disintegrating. Eventually she moves out of the house and into an apartment. When Macon becomes incapacitated due to a fall down his basement stairs, he returns to the family home to stay with his eccentric siblings - sister Rose and brothers Porter and Charles - whose odd habits include alphabetizing the groceries in the kitchen cabinets, ignoring the ringing telephone, and playing an invented card game called "Vaccination." When his publisher Julian comes to visit, he finds himself attracted to Rose despite their obvious differences.

Macon hires Muriel Pritchett, a quirky young woman with a sickly son, to train his unruly dog Edward who he cannot bear to give away because he once belonged to Ethan. Although Muriel at first seems brash and unsophisticated, Macon soon finds himself drifting into a relationship with her, spending most of his nights in her small, shabby apartment and even taking her son shopping for clothes. When Sarah becomes aware of the situation, she decides they should reconcile, even suggesting that they move back into their old home. Macon leaves Muriel and soon Sarah and he have set up house once more.

While visiting Paris for research on a travel guide, it turns out that Muriel is not only in the same flight, but is also staying in the same hotel -- she had found the info in Macon's travel guide. She suggests that they enjoy themselves as if they are on a vacation, but Macon insists that he is there for strictly business. After Macon becomes bedridden in his hotel room with back pain, Sarah comes to Paris to care for him as well as make his trips in order to complete his travel research. Despite Sarah's renewed interest in their relationship, Macon decides to return to Muriel. During his cab ride to the airport, Macon spies Muriel attempting to hail a cab with numerous suitcases and shopping bags at her feet. He tells the cab driver to pull over, and Macon and Muriel smile at each other.

Cast

• William Hurt as Macon Leary
• Kathleen Turner as Sarah Leary
• Geena Davis as Muriel Pritchett
• Bill Pullman as Julian
• Amy Wright as Rose Leary
• David Ogden Stiers as Porter Leary
• Ed Begley, Jr. as Charles Leary

Reception

Won:

• Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress - Geena Davis
• USC Scripter Award 1988

Nominated:

• Academy Award for Best Picture
• Academy Award for Writing Adapted Screenplay
• Academy Award for Original Music Score
• BAFTA Award for Best Adapted Screenplay
• Golden Globe Award for Best Motion Picture - Drama
• Golden Globe Award for Best Original Score

References

External links

• Internet Movie Database listing
• Review by Roger Ebert