When I first learned that Here Comes Mr. Jordan was the source material for the film Down to Earth (2001), I felt apprehensive. I liked Down to Earth fine, I guess. I just wasn't looking forward to seeing the same story a second time. But Here Comes Mr. Jordan blew my mind! It may have the same basic plot set-up as Down to Earth, i.e. a man is accidentally whisked away from his body by an angel who then needs to find a replacement body where he can live out the remainder of his years, but it far exceeds its remake in terms of originality. Down to Earth featured Chris Rock as a struggling comedian who was given the body of an ancient billionaire. He used his new life to pursue the woman of his dreams and achieve his dreams of becoming a famous comedian. But whereas Down to Earth used its plot to explore the romance between Chris Rock and his beloved, Here Comes Mr. Jordan shoots for much, much more. The film follows Robert Montgomery as Joe Pendleton, an amateur boxer, pilot, and saxophone player who "dies" in a plane crash. He is given the body of an aging tycoon named Farnsworth who was murdered by his wife and an associate. He inhabits the body not because he wants the money, but because he wants to bring the pair to justice. It also doesn't hurt that he wants to use his new-found wealth to save Miss Logan, the daughter of a financier who was just sold worthless bonds by Farnsworth. But he is soon murdered again by his wife. He then must use the body of another boxer to save Miss Logan, reclaim his title, and get his murderers arrested. It's a phenomenally dense film, but it never feels laborious or tiring to watch. There is just a LOT of story that needs to be told. And in today's Hollywood climate of creative bankruptcy, a truly inventive story is worth its weight in gold, silver, and diamonds.
9/10
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