'RETURN' FILLED WITH PLEASANT SURPRISES.

Byline: Glenn Whipp Film Critic

``Return to Me'' is a movie that has no business working, but it does. The premise alone should be required to carry some sort of warning: Widower falls in love with transplant patient who carries his late wife's heart.

If you just groaned, then find another movie. This one is so full of whimsy that the set decorators probably had to sweep the fairy dust away at the end of each day. But for anyone who misses Doris Day, believes that love conquers all and that it's possible to get good corned beef and cabbage at an Italian restaurant named O'Reilly's, ``Return to Me'' is a romantic throwback that will warm your heart and give your handkerchief a workout.

Bonnie Hunt, the gal pal of the romantic fantasy genre (``Jerry Maguire,'' ``Only You,'' etc., etc.) co-wrote and directed ``Return to Me,'' and cast herself as the movie's gal pal. It's a hit-and-miss effort. Too often Hunt settles for the trite-and-true with twinkly old-timers, non-existent character arcs and a shameless (not to mention stupid and strained) subplot involving a lonesome gorilla.

And yet just when you feel an overpowering urge to run to the exit (this is especially pressing in the film's first 20 minutes), Hunt reins the film in and creates such an appealing atmosphere of sweetness and innocence that you can't help but follow the words of an old Dean Martin hit and ``smile, smile, smile.''

Dino, of course, sings the film's title song, and he and Sinatra and Jackie Gleason's syrupy orchestra provide the mood music for the movie. David Duchovny shrugs off his dour ``X-Files'' persona to play the widower, Bob, who's devastated after losing his beloved wife in an automobile accident. Minnie Driver, returning to the kind of vulnerable role that won her acclaim in ``Good Will Hunting,'' is the beneficiary of the wife's misfortune, getting a new lease on a life that, until now, has been rather sheltered.

Driver's character, Grace, waits tables at the improbable Italian restaurant, where her grandfather (Carroll O'Connor) and his chef (Robert Loggia) and their cronies seem to spend more time playing poker (and Cupid) than they do serving pasta. When Bob finds himself in O'Reilly's on the blind date from hell, he and Grace meet and zing go the strings of their hearts.

Only Grace's heart came from Bob's dead wife. Only Grace doesn't know that, and Bob certainly doesn't, either. And therein lies the obstacle to their future happiness.

Duchovny and Driver have a natural ease together, giving their scenes an engaging believability in this most heightened of fantasies. Hunt and co-writer Don Lake also play favorites, giving her some enjoyably earthy supporting scenes with Jim Belushi.

Jim Belushi? Enjoyable? Like we said, ``Return to Me'' provides a number of unlikely pleasures.

THE FACTS

--The film: ``Return to Me'' (PG; some language).

--The stars: David Duchovny, Minnie Driver, Carroll O'Connor, Robert Loggia, Bonnie Hunt, Jim Belushi.

--Behind the scenes: Directed by Bonnie Hunt. Screenplay by Hunt and Don Lake. Released by MGM Pictures.

--Running time: One hour, 55 minutes.

--Playing: Citywide.

--Our rating: Three stars.

CAPTION(S):

photo, box

Photo: David Duchovny and Minnie Driver star in the romantic comedy ``Return to Me,'' which opens today.

Box: THE FACTS (see text)