Heart and Souls (1993) is a fantasy comedy-drama directed by Ron Underwood. Robert Downey Jr. plays Thomas Reilly, a San Francisco businessman who, since birth, has been the unknowing host to four ghosts, souls who died in a bus accident the night he was born and became attached to him.
Downey Jr.’s performance is widely praised for its physical comedy, as his character is frequently “possessed” by the four spirits, requiring him to mimic their distinct personalities and mannerisms.
Thomas is haunted by Milo (Tom Sizemore), Harrison (Charles Grodin), Penny (Alfre Woodard), and Julia (Kyra Sedgwick), four strangers who died in a bus crash the moment Thomas was born and became his “guardian angels.” After years of being invisible, the ghosts realize they have limited time to resolve their “unfinished business” on Earth and use Thomas as their physical vessel to do so. A highlight of his performance includes a scene where he and the ghosts sing “Walk Like a Man” and an uncredited rendition of “The Star-Spangled Banner.”
Critics like Peter Travers noted the film showcased Downey Jr.’s “explosive talent” for comedy. For this role, Robert Downey Jr. won the Saturn Award for Best Actor from the Academy of Science Fiction, Fantasy & Horror Films. The film was released shortly after his Oscar-nominated turn in Chaplin (1992), marking a period of significant critical success for the actor.
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