The ads for "When A Man Loves A Woman" made it seem like it was more of a light comedy than a serious drama on how alcoholism affects a family. Considering the very odd screen writing collaboration of Ronald Bass (Rain Man) and Al Franken (Saturday Night Live), the film felt off-balanced and incomplete. I kept thinking of "Days of Wine and Roses" (which was a much better movie which was also set in San Francisco) while watching this movie. Despite my overall disappointment in the film, there were a couple of things that I did admire: the helplessness Andy Garcia's character felt when he realized that as much as he tries, he can't help his alcoholic wife. It did capture co-dependency within a relationship rather well.
**POSSIBLE SPOILER** I was also impressed with Meg Ryan specifically her speech near the end when she acknowledged her alcoholism and how it has affected her family and her life. It was when she got her coin for staying sober for 6 months. It was the only scene that rang true for me. I was pleasantly surprised how well Ryan played that scene out without asking for pity from the audience at the meeting. I wished that the entire movie would have been as honest as that monologue near the end of the movie.
**POSSIBLE SPOILER** I was also impressed with Meg Ryan specifically her speech near the end when she acknowledged her alcoholism and how it has affected her family and her life. It was when she got her coin for staying sober for 6 months. It was the only scene that rang true for me. I was pleasantly surprised how well Ryan played that scene out without asking for pity from the audience at the meeting. I wished that the entire movie would have been as honest as that monologue near the end of the movie.