After returning home from World War II and having a less-than-successful reunion with his wife, soldier Paul Sutton (Keanu Reeves) meets a young pregnant Mexican woman named Victoria Aragon (Aitana Sanchez Gijon) who is going to see her family at their vineyard at Napa Valley. When she tells him that she’s terrified of letting her very traditional father know that she’s pregnant – and her boyfriend has deserted her – Paul offers to pretend to be her husband. But then the pair find themselves drawn to each other…
There are reasons why this movie shouldn’t be enjoyable – for starters, the storyline is very predictable – it’s fairly obvious what’s going to happen right from the beginning – but nonetheless the journey from beginning to end of the film is very watchable. Keanu Reeves really isn’t a great actor, but it somehow doesn’t matter because he is just so likeable. And this film is also just so likeable. No sex, no violence, no swearing even – just a very sweet, heartwarming film.
The movie was shot in Napa Valley, where it is set, and there is some truly beautiful and luscious scenery – it’s almost worth watching for that alone. There are some gentle comedic moments, and some touching moments. It certainly left me with a smile on my face!
(Trivia: This movie is based on the 1942 Italian film ‘Quattro Passi Fra Le Nuvole’ (Four Steps In The Clouds); however, there are some some slight differences in the plot.)
Year of release: 1995
Director: Alfonso Arau
Writers: Robert Mark Kamen, Mark Miller, Harvey Weitzman, Piero Tellini, Cesare Zavattini, Vittorio de Benedetti
Main cast: Keanu Reeves, Aitana Sanchez Gijon, Anthony Quinn, Giancarlo Giannini, Angelica Aragon, Evangelina Elizondo
Between the Pages 
I enjoyed this movie as well particularly as it was set in the Napa Valley. It brought back memories of when my husband and I spent our 25th wedding anniversary in California and visited some of the Napa Valley vineyards.
What a wonderful way to spend your anniversary. The place looked so beautiful, and the film had some lovely old-fashioned romance, that I think is missing from so many movies today.
Yes, it was such a fantastic trip. I remember coming into land at San Francisco airport and seeing the Golden Gate Bridge just below us. That was pure magic.
I agree with you about today’s movies lacking that old-fashioned romance. I think that’s why I’ve always loved the movies of the 30s, 40s and 50s.
I’ve found some modern movies that still have that big-sigh-at-the-end factor, like You’ve Got Mail and Just Like Heaven.