Monday, July 21, 2008

Movie review – “Maid in Manhattan” (2001) **

Jennifer Lopez makes an ideal Cinderella because she can both drab down and glam up to a considerable degree, so she is totally well cast as the maid who romances her “prince” – a Republican Senator. A Republican Senator as a prince? You mean like a George W Bush or Nelson Rockefeller figure? Yuck!

But they steer clear of establishing his positions on gun control or birth control; Ralph Fiennes isn’t quite naturally charming enough just to play a rich guy (cf Hugh Grant in Two Weeks Notice). Some talented actors huff and puff in an attempt to blow life into the proceedings – Chris Eigmann, Joely Richardson, Bob Hoskins – but it never happens.

The most enjoyable scene is where Fiennes and Lopez stroll through Central Park: this bit is charming. Oh and the kid who plays Lopez’s son is good.

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