Superb in every way

Rating: 8/10 (19 June 2004)

This is a tremendous film. Once you accept the rather implausible basic premise, every subplot, every character, every scene is a delight. It's one of those movies that you know is going to improve every time you see it.
I think what makes this work so well is the depth of every character in it. They're all three-dimensional. Even the antagonist, the security manager, comes off as a real person with real and valid motivations.
Hanks gives a spectacular performance in what has to be an extraordinarily difficult role. Stanley Tucci as the security manager was also brilliant, worth of Best Supporting Actor.
A note on the rating. The MPAA has declared themselves to be totally useless with this rating. PG-13? Are they nuts? I'm a pretty stuffy moralist, and this movie should be rated "G", suitable for general audiences. No violence. No profanity. (You think there is, but it's just your dirty mind.) No T or A. (Though does CZ-J really need to take her clothes off?) It's no racier than "Casablanca". How can this be in the same category as "Return of the King", which is a great movie, but not one you want your five year old to watch. Or any of the dozens of throw away teen trash movies that appear every summer with a PG-13. Absolutely ridiculous.