Spielberg further flounders in his attempt to make films for grown-ups
with this mushy remake of the Spencer Tracy classic A Guy Named Joe. The
problem is that he can't let go of the tenets of his golden period:
derring-doing, gorgeous camerawork, and sentimental manipulation.
Dreyfuss is the forest fire-fighter who dies but can't let go,
lingering as a guardian angel around love of his life Hunter. The leads
are fine, with Goodman providing welcome comic relief in his
ubiquitous best friend role - but good as the idea is, Spielberg fudges
it because he won't reconcile his style with his content.
