\'Bounce\' a good, cheesy date movie

The true test of love is how you deal with the truth. This is the premise behind "Bounce," the latest film starring Ben Affleck and Gwyneth Paltrow. While a cheesy script bogs down the movie, the performances make this film worth seeing.\nChristmas is in the air and Buddy Ameral (Affleck) is stranded at O'Hare Airport, waiting to go home after he closed his latest advertising coup. While waiting for his flight home, he meets fellow traveler Greg Janello, who's hoping to get home to his wife and sons. Janello's flight isn't until the morning, but the promise of a sexual encounter with a beautiful woman prompts Ameral to switch tickets with him. Predictably, the plane crashes. One year later, after a plunge deep into guilt and booze, Ameral seeks to make amends and goes to tell Janello's wife, Abby (Paltrow), the truth. But he falls in love with her and can't. The question is: how will she react when she finds out the truth?\nRoos' script begins deliberately slow to develop the romance between Affleck and Paltrow, making sure the audience loves both characters and wants them to be with one another. The problem lies when this idea runs its course and Roos feels the need to whip it into a lightning-fast pace, pushing the characters and the audience to its predictable conclusion. \nThe flaws in the script are saved by the performances. Affleck is incredible in this film. We see his love for Abby and the absolute torture of keeping a secret from her. He makes his emotions alive for the audience. The chemistry with Paltrow is undeniable. For her part, Paltrow is excellent as the widow who cannot shake her past but does not want to deny her future. She is also excellent as a mom, which she played with such grace and comedic style.\nThe leading performances are equaled, if not surpassed, by the supporting players. This honor particularly extends to Johnny Galecki, better known as David on "Roseanne," as Buddy's amusingly caustic gay assistant.\nWith startling performances, "Bounce" is worth seeing with the person who drives you crazy when he leaves the toilet seat up or who makes you mad when she has to stop for something when you are already late for dinner. You know, someone you love.