Touching but room for improvement

Rating: 7/10 (9 January 2007)

I had some time to kill and figured, what the heck, I'll see this to help keep up on what's selling in Hollywood. I was pleasantly surprised on one hand, but there is definitely room for improvement with a little bit of work. This is a perfect example of a story that would have benefited greatly by some scrutiny and revision by professional writers. I could identify with parts of each of the two main characters, played by Kate Winslett and Cameron Diaz. Especially Amanda (maybe because the story focused heavily on her and not so much on the other), how she has an affair (okay one night stand) and wants to make it something serious/permanent. Anyone who's ever been in that situation with someone either in or from a foreign country could probably identify. But I thought parts of the story were weak and some of the direction amateurish. With a little work, it could have really been a very good, much stronger work. But still worth seeing, especially compared to much of the junk that's out there. The pickings are slim.