Some fortunate children have an imaginary friend who is always there for them. In Heart and Souls young Thomas Reilly (Eric Lloyd) has four special friends to watch over him -- Harrison (Charles Grodin), an aspiring opera singer; Penny (Alfre Woodard), a single black mother with three children; Milo (Tom Sizemore), a cat burglar; and Julia (Kyra Sedgwick), a woman unable to make a love commitment. They were all killed one evening in 1959 in a bus accident. Their souls glommed on to Thomas who was born in a nearby car at the moment they died.
For a while, it's a lark to have four friends nobody else sees or hears. But when some of Milo's pranks get Thomas into trouble, the earthbound souls decide to give the seven year old some breathing room. Besides, they still don't know what they are supposed to be doing and why they are attached to Thomas.
Twenty-seven years later, they're back with news that he is their second chance. Through him, they are supposed to take care of any unfinished business in their lives. However, Thomas (Robert Downey, Jr.) is reluctant to jeopardize his career and take time away from his relationship with Anne (Elisabeth Shue). The four souls then resort to some otherworldly shenanigans to convince him that helping them resolve their lives and move on is the right thing to do.
Heart and Souls is a delightful fantasy romp with a captivating ensemble cast. Director Ron Underwood mines the story's ample comic and spiritual riches. The film compels us to consider what one action it would take to make our lives complete. And the movie makes it clear that helping others find their heart's desire is the essence of what it means to be human.
