Sweet and bittersweet

Rating: Null/10 (30 June 2004)

Contains Spoiler This is not a hit-it-out-of-the-ballpark film. It's just a very good film. Hanks plays a believable ferriner (!) stuck in hell - well, stuck in a New York airport - because his country has effectively disappeared & thus he cannot get his papers to enter the U.S. He survives by both his wit and his charm, along with plenty of skill at woodworking and finish work. He meets up with Catherine Zeta-Jones (who is gorgeous!) and helps her sort out her life, but he doesn't end up with her. Instead, he fulfills his vow to his father - to get one last signature. The end is bittersweet. He gets the signature, and returns home. Catherine is sadder, but wiser. Lots of the underclass learn what it means to be brave - really brave.
A nice date night movie.