Not your usual "romantic comedy", but there are some "screwballs" loose here.

Rating: 9/10 (5 May 2006)

If this is really a romantic comedy, as some say, it surely isn't one the directors of that genre in the 1930's would recognise. It is a comedy of a sort. Checkov would likely think so, but don't expect to roll around on the floor trying to stifle guffaws. Perhaps a grin now and then may be in order. Almost every character, the mother of "Carol" is one exception, leads a life of desperation, but not "quietly". Even the dog looks rather desperate, and he isn't quiet either. "In the dark night of the soul" it really is three o'clock in the morning for these people most of the time. I can't recall chuckling even once, but still I was wryly amused. Probably this was a case of "enjoying" the other guy's misery. No doubt a human trait. The "thank the gods, I'm not like that" syndrome, eh? It may sound like I didn't like this movie, but that is not the case at all. The entire cast is fully up to the task of putting the story across, but I derived the most enjoyment from the broad spectrum of women characters, beginning with Helen Hunt, of course, but going down to the briefest of walk-on bit player glimpses. Where did the director find them all? My only cavil is that it seemed the editor was doing his best to sabotage the project. Maybe he was just being modern. Whatever, I owe the film a debt of gratitude for introducing me to Helen Hunt. She really brings "Carol" to life as a real person whom it would be an interesting experience to meet. With any luck, without the asthmatic son. You don't want too many complications, do you?