Amazon.com video review:
Nice concept, shaky execution--that about sums up the mixed blessings of
British actor Peter Howitt's intelligent but forgivably flawed debut as a
writer-director. It's got more emotional depth than most frothy romantic
comedies, and its central idea--the parallel tracking of two possible
destinies for a young London professional played by Gwyneth Paltrow--is
full of involving possibilities. It's essentially a what-if scenario with
Helen (Paltrow) at the center of two slightly but significantly different
romantic trajectories, one involving her two-timing boyfriend (John Lynch)
and the other with an amiable chap (John Hannah) who represents a happier
outcome. That's the film's basic problem, however: The two scenarios are so
romantically imbalanced (one guy's a total cad, the other charmingly
sincere) that Helen inadvertently comes off looking foolish and needlessly
confused. Still, this remains a pleasant experiment, and Howitt's dialogue
is witty enough to keep things entertaining. It's also a treat for Paltrow
fans; not only does the svelte actress handle a British accent without
embarrassing herself, but she gets to play two subtle variations of the
same character, sporting different wardrobes and hairstyles in a role that
plays into her glamorous off-screen persona. --Jeff Shannon
