Maid in Manhattan

Plot synopsis:
Marisa Ventura is a single mother trying to get by with her 10-year-old young son Ty by working as a maid for The Beresford Hotel in the heart of Manhattan. When not in school, Ty spends time among Marisa’s fellow hotel workers, who think she is capable of being promoted to management.
While Marisa and fellow maid Stephanie are cleaning the room of socialite Caroline Lane, Stephanie convinces Marisa to try on a designer Dolce & Gabbana coat. Lane had previously asked for it to be returned to the store and Stephanie argues that it “technically” doesn’t belong to anyone at the moment. Elsewhere in the hotel, Ty befriends hotel guest and senatorial candidate Christopher Marshall, whom Ty learns has an interest in Richard Nixon, the subject of his school presentation. Ty wants to go with Chris to walk his dog and the pair go to Caroline Lane’s room to ask Marisa for permission. Chris meets Marisa who is wearing the designer coat, and is instantly smitten with her. He assumes that she is Caroline Lane. The trio spend some time together in the park. Though Marisa and Chris are attracted to each other, Marisa is terrified that management will find out about the ruse and makes it a point to avoid Chris afterwards.
Chris asks the hotel’s head butler Lionel Bloch to invite “Caroline Lane” to lunch, but he is confused when the real Caroline shows up instead of Marisa. Ironically, Marisa was present when she received the invitation and even offered Caroline some advice on what to wear for their “Lunch à deux”. When the real Caroline shows up, Chris asks his assistant Jerry Siegal to find “the other Caroline Lane” promising that he will attend an important dinner and wishes her to go with him. Jerry asks Lionel to find her. Lionel, who has figured out that Marisa is the woman Chris has been looking for, tells her to go to the dinner and end the affair swiftly if she wants to keep her possible future in hotel management. Stephanie and the hotel staff assist her in preparing for the evening by styling her hair and loaning her an expensive dress and spectacular necklace.
Marisa is unable to end the affair, and she spends the night in Chris's hotel room. The next morning, Marisa is spotted by the real Caroline Lane and her friend leaving Chris' room. Caroline blurts out the truth to the hotel management and Marisa is fired in front of Chris in Lane’s hotel suite. Both Marisa and Chris spend some time apart with him still thinking about her and Marisa hounded by the press and her disapproving classist mother Veronica.
Some time later, Marisa has obtained another job as a maid at another hotel. Chris is giving a press conference in the same hotel and Ty attends it and asks Chris whether people should be forgiven if they make mistakes, referencing former President of the United States, Richard Nixon. Ty leads him to the staff-room where Marisa is having her break. Chris and Marisa are reunited and the film ends with images of publications showing that Chris has been elected, he and Marisa are still together after one year, Marisa has started her own hospitality business, and Marisa’s maid friends have been promoted to management.

Tags: romantic, fantasy

Review:
So many people have already written reviews of this movie, which has been out for five years now, that I am not going to go into detail about the plot, or the acting, or whether the storyline is predictable, or how cute Ty Posey was.
I do not understand why so many people had problems with Ralph Finnes in this movie, I found him not only believable but incredibly sexy, and I hope he gets the opportunity to do more romantic comedies!
The only wrong note was the series of magazine covers at the end, showing what happened to the characters; it was much too "cute" and rather unbelievable (all three of her maid friends become hotel managers?) And I was rather disappointed that - for all the film's brave talk of crossing social barriers - the movie ends with nothing more than a magazine cover with the headline "A year later, they are still together".
Then watch it again, and again, for the pleasure of discovering the tapestry of truths it contains.This is every bit as good a film as "The Wedding Planner" and Fiennes portrays a politico who learns the world doesn't revolve around himself.
So you'll know where I'm coming from, some of my favorite movies are "Parent Trap," "Father of the Bride," "Kate & Leopold."  If you like these kinds of movies that leave you feeling good and happy about life, then you'll enjoy this tastefully done movie as well.
It's hard to imagine why that would bother anyone who'd seen the trailer, by the time you sit down to watch the movie you know the plot.I may be the last person on earth to see Jennifer Lopez outside the checkout line.
The kid (Ty) was great, and Bob Hoskins was wonderful.I think Pygmalian (Pretty Woman) is a better story, and Julia Roberts is obviously head and shoulders above Jennifer Lopez, but I certainly don't regret adding it to my Netflix queue!Van. A positive note about the movie..
It wasn't a masterpiece, but then again I don't think it ever had aspirations to be.J-Lo does a good job to pull off her role nicely - although in the beginning I couldn't help but think 'Oh look - it's Jennifer Lopez, prime diva, pretending to be poor'.Even more amazingly is that Mr Pretentious - step forward Ralph 'it's pronounced Rafe' Fiennes - does a good job in making his role believable.With a good supporting cast this film trundles along nicely.
It might not be Oscar material, but it is a cute movie - so if you like Jennifer Lopez or wants to spend an evening on the sofa with your girlfriend, this movie is a good choice.
Jennifer Lopez's turn as Cinderella/Sabrina proves she does not remotely belong to "rags-to-Princess" roles; she is galaxies away from Audrey Hepburn or Grace Kelly (or even "Pretty Woman" Julia Roberts), no matter how expensive the jewelry or costumes she wears.
Three great British actors: Ralph Fiennes, Natasha Richardson, Bob Hoskins - I know they can do better than this!
There's even some folk cast in the wicked stepmother role, except in this case it's the wicked hotel guest (Natasha Richardson) whose identity Marisa the maid (Jennifer Lopez) steals.This really was a sad case for a movie, filled with completely unbelievable scenes: Marisa is really going to be allowed to borrow a fabulously valuable necklace from the hotel jewelry shop?
Nice fantasy romance starring Jennifer Lopez that seems to rank high amongst her fans.Marisa Ventura (Jennifer Lopez) is a single parent maid working at a high end hotel in Manhattan.
If someone else played the lead, this movie would have been just a soap opera, but credit goes to Jennifer Lopez for turning a flop into a box office success.
The only people I would recommend this movie to are Jennifer Lopez fans only because of the fact that they obviously don't mind that she can't sing, so they will not care that she can't act either!.
Yes he had some really sweet lines, but they would have been so much sweeter if delivered from a heart breaker like Matthew McConaughey, Hugh Jackman, or Johnny Dep. Everytime he smiled I thought he looked like he was about to slash her thoat (not saying that would have been a bad thing) The sweetest part of the movie was the stuffed penguin.They didn't have a drop of chemistry.
It was still a sweet story.I did like Stanley Tucci in this and the maid that put in JLo's application (not sure what her name is) I thought they were at least believable.
I rented Maid in Manhattan the other day and watched it last night, but before I had watched it, I looked at the rating on IMDb and I saw the low rating and I was like "Oh, no, I've picked another bad movie".
I don't know why I wanted to see this movie, just I figured I needed a romantic comedy in my selection, so I just grabbed it and even after that rating I thought this was going to be a bad movie.
Yeah, it has minor flaws here and there, this isn't movie of the year, but over all I would say that it was pretty cute.Marisa is a single mom in Manhattan who is a working maid in one of the top hotels.
She has to convince him that nothing can happen between them without letting him know what she did and who she really is, but it might be too strong of a connection for both of them to let go so easily.Maid in Manhattan is predictable and I think Marisa's character wasn't really as developed as I would like her to be because she came off as kinda rude and judgmental.
It is a new Cinderella story, if you like: The Maid meets the Politician who fells in love with her - because he's mistaking her for a hotel guest.
Jennifer Lopez and Ralph Fiennes are good headliners for this movie.
Combined with the excellent acting, the John Hughes script kept the story moving at a good pace right from the word go.Your feeling about this movie may depend on your own personal experiences.
Jennifer Lopez's 10 year old son in the movie helped to make the story all the more believable and increased the viewers sympathy for his hard working mother.
OK, I admit, I'm not a big romantic-comedy watcher but this film was so bad it became funny.I have yet to discover another movie (who wasn't a parody) who ripped off so many other movies than this one.Even the music choice was below zero.
I liked Jlo in the movie "The Wedding Planner" and after watching the same i knew that she is a great actress(not speaking about her inborn singing talent).
His expressions are vivid and i like his sense of humour.In one word this movie is a good watch and, personally, i would want every human being who knows the meaning of love, to watch it..
I like Ralph Finnes, and I was hoping that Jennifer Lopez had a film that was good enough for her.
Well, I still like Ralph Finnes, and I am still waiting for a film that is worthy of Jennifer Lopez's talents.
After appearing in the likes of Schindler's List, Quiz Show, Strange Days, and The English Patient, he has to play second fiddle to that untalented excuse who goes by the nickname of J-Lo.In yet another turgid romantic comedy, poor Ralph has to go through the Hollywood trough playing the Prince Charming to J-Lo's Cinderella.
There are times when you want to watch a movie where you don't have to think, but just love the characters on the screen.
What I also liked about this movie is the relationship between Jennifer and Ralph Fiennes.
It's definitely not a movie I would brag about.Ralph Fines and Jennifer Lopez, didn't add much to the film with their "chemistry" or lack there of, either.
J-Lo, was of course perfect because of her look and diversity that they needed for the part, however I think a real American, or someone more rustic would have played the part better for Fines' character.All in all it's cute, and there are a few funny lines, and so I wouldn't say that it's all bad, just not very good.
I am almost a person who never saw a romantic comedy I did not like but Maid in Manhattan is pure garbage.
One looked at me and said, "you might be right, but if she liked the movie that much maybe she'll want to learn more about really being a maid.
The lead performances from Jennifer Lopez (as Marisa) and Ralph Fiennes (as the hot Christopher Marshall) are excellent - Lopez's being the superior, I thought, but both were good.
Jennifer Lopez played a maid in a posh Manhattan hotel when a Senator dropped by.
I think Jennifer Lopez acted very well in this, and had great chemistry with Ralph Fiennes, who took up the mantle of sweet, leading man with surprising ease, showing his range and versatility, from manic villains to romantic senators.So, definitely worth a watch I say, however, if you are slightly immature in your tastes, or in some way have an aversion to anything sweet or romantic, and maybe even at times remotely cheesy (in that sweet romantic way) then it's best to give it a miss.For everyone else, I think it is definitely worth watching, I found it an incredibly enjoyable film, being eclectic in my tastes.There were moments when I had to hug a cushion it was so...
I also thought the acting was quite good from Jennifer Lopez in addition to being great eye candy as usual.
"Maid in Manhattan" doesn't disguise itself as a sophisticated journey into the delves of the romantic soul, nor does it even attempt to get its audience very acquainted with the reason behind the strange romance of an ambitious, dauntless maid (Jennifer Lopez) and a sympathetic, power-hungry politician (oxymoron!), yet presents a tale so harmless and occasionally enjoyable, that it can be received like a Cinderella fairy tale: a sugary (if tasteless) romantic comedy.
"Maid in Manhattan", if not taken too seriously or critically, is at least a charming, innocuous love story featured in an exceedingly dazzling setting (perhaps I have a propensity for New York films), and despite being very implausible and entirely superficial, it is interesting and enjoyable enough to warrant a bordering recommendation, and the delightful Bob Hoskins alone provides enough grandeur to compensate for much of "Maid"'s deficiencies.
While it is not as fleshed out as it may have been, and it will never (as I already noted) be compared to the works of Chaplin and D.W. Griffith, it's just another one of those formulaic little Saturday afternoon, feel-good love stories with beautiful characters saying and doing all we expect to conclude in a happy ending.
Firstly I must say how much I dislike Jennifer Lopez so attempting to watch this movie has been a struggle since it was first released however I decided to brave it out for the sake of Ralph Fiennes.
I think Jennifer Lopez has done much better movies (Wedding Planner, for one).
It was impossible to miss the fact that J'Lo and Ralph Fiennes were the leads in this Cinderella-type romantic comedy, but none of the previews I saw indicated the involvement of Hoskins, an excellent actor, too often overlooked.
Jennifer Lopez gives an excellent performance and  Ralph Fiennes isn't bad either.
Although I get the feeling that the writer has seen `Ever After' quit a few times, the film still has an originality and charm that is rare in the world of seemingly over-rushed movies that is Hollywood.
Tyler Posey, Natasha Richardson, Stanley Tucci, and Marissa Matrone)are well written and well presented by the actors playing them.I must recommend this film to anyone who is tired of seeing overrated movies deliver little in the way of enjoyment.
It's painful to see actors of the level of Bob Hoskins and Ralph Fiennes in something like this.This film should never have been made..
In a preposterously unlikely story, Jennifer Lopez, a chambermaid at a top New York hotel, tries on a guest's outfit while cleaning a room, and is surprised by senatorial candidate Ralph Fiennes who promptly falls in love with her.
Lopez acts well, so much better in this role than the stereotype Bullock (who was also considered for the part) might have brought to it, and Bob Hoskins and Ralph Fiennes  two actors I usually can't abide  gave great performances.
If nothing else, those of you who like to see beautiful clothes worn well can do no better than admire real-life Bronx-girl-made good Lopez, though we don't unfortunately get to see her dance very much or sing  two other things she also does rather well..
Also to see her play a poor character when in real life she is rich shows that she is no diva.With great supporting roles by some cute kid and Ralf Fiennes as the dashing hero this beats any Hugh Grant/Julia Roberts/Meg Ryan effort easily.
Now it's been on Starz for a very long time and FINALLY I promised myself I would sit down and actually watch this thing from start to finish no matter how much I wanted to run away.The absolute only thing that caught my attention was Jennifer Lopez's character.
She meets a POORLY cast Ralph Fiennes, who plays Assemblyman Chris Marshall.As much as I can't stand J-Lo, I can't help but say it was only when he stepped into the movie I truly had to force myself from changing the channel.As for J-Lo's son, played by Tyler Posey, he's almost believable as a normal child until he starts talking about politics.
"Maid in Manhattan" is a typical Hollywood romantic comedy fantasy of rich guy and poor girl coming together in Cinderella fashion and enjoyable fluff in the "Kate and Leopold" mode.
Ralph Fiennes simply doesn't have the touch for such a light, romantic role, and his American accent doesn't even work as an allegedly upper crust one (I couldn't stay around for the credits to see if he had a dialog coach.) Bob Hoskins has spent an entire career as a Working Class Hero and here we're supposed to believe he's a snobby butler in the John Gielgud in "Arthur" mode, or even like Hector Elizondo's manager in "Pretty Woman," so his sympathy for J.
I loved Maid in Manhattan...it's a really cute, feelgood movie.
Obviously you can't go watch this expecting some oscar-winning piece of art...but if you're in emotional need of a sweet, romantic fairy tale, you'll come out of the movie theater with a smile and seeing the world through pink coloured glasses...at least for a while!!
Here is a movie that had to happen - a modern day "Cinderella" story starring Jennifer Lopez (as Marisa Ventura).
Nasty Natasha Richardson (as Caroline Lane), a "Wicked Stepsister"-type, heads up an appealing supporting cast.**** Maid in Manhattan (12/13/02) Wayne Wang ~ Jennifer Lopez, Ralph Fiennes, Tyler Posey, Natasha Richardson.
Jennifer and Ralph Finnes look like they are having a great time and the films sweetness carries from start to finish.
Also to prove how good Jennifer Lopez is she also appeared in The wedding Planner - my favourite film of all time!
I always thought these types of movies are always a bad rip-off of Pretty Woman, but Maid in Manhattan is even worse.
After this I don't want to watch any other movie containing any of these actors (including good movies like The English Patient with Ralph Fiennes).
"Maid in Manhattan", along with the slightly better "My Big Fat Greek Wedding", were the two feel-good movies of 2002.
Jennifer Lopez is a maid in a high-class Manhattan hotel who is struggling through life.
In an almost totally unrelated story, Ralph Fiennes (perfect as usual) is attempting to win a seat in the New York Senate and just happens to be spending the night at the hotel where Lopez works.
When the fundamental elements of story-telling are present like they are in "Maid in Manhattan", a film cannot fail to make a nice lasting impression.
It has its moments, and boasts a decent performance from Jennifer Lopez, who could probably do this sort of film in her sleep.The big thing that stopped me fully enjoying this film was the fact that I just couldn't buy Raiph Fiennes as the male lead in a romantic comedy.
Admittedly, there are worse romantic comedies than 'Maid in Manhattan' and there are worse Jennifer Lopez films and performances.
Particularly good is the adorable and very likable Tyler Garcia Posey, while Natasha Richardson is amusing and Bob Hoskins (with a speech that is the one script highlight of the film) makes much of a role that could have easily have wasted him completely, it's beneath him but as said he does much with what he has.Unfortunately neither Jennifer Lopez or Ralph Fiennes are convincing.
Like 'The Wedding Planner', if not quite as bad, 'Maid in Manhattan is lacking in both comedy and romance.
Jennifer Lopez plays single mum Marisa who works as a maid at a posh hotel in Manhattan.
But overall this is a movie worth seeing if you love Ralph Fiennes like I do, but definitely not worth owning..
Such as Pretty Woman, Only You (Marisa Tomei), When A Man Loves A Woman, Forget Paris, etc.????Maid In Manhattan was an okay film, but I've seen Jennifer Lopez in better films.
One thing they forget is everyone sees movies differently and quite often they come off as tree huggers...lol...Lighten up, a good warm love story that's well done is all Maid in Mahattan really is...
jennifer lopez and ralph fiennes were radiant.
Ralph Fiennes and Jennifer Lopez had so little chemistry I could have been watching two mice mate.