The Background
Millionaire George Wade (Hugh Grant) is the younger brother of Howard Wade (David Haig) and the head of the giant Wade Corporation. The problem is he has been hiring beautiful women, practically useless lawyers whose stupid decisions has cost millions to Wade Corporation. And mostly he slept with them. And Howard had to fire them.
Lucy Kelson (Sandra Bullock) is a Harvard-trained brilliant attorney with a keen mind, painful ulcer and sleep problems. But she was raised by her activist-lawyer parents (Dana Ivey and Robert Klein). She is in and out of Jails more frequently than she would have had dreams!!! Sometime protesting to save a Building or sometime to save a park.
The Story
The bottom-line minded Howard has made it clear to George that if he is not hiring a Harvard-trained or highly qualified attorney and get his company acts clear, then he will go to the extent of replacing George himself.
In the meantime, Wade Corpn has selected the Coney Island’s Community Center demolishing which they intend to develop it into a commercial complex. There goes the trigger. Bang in front of it is Lucy protesting against destruction of this building. She decides to impress upon (otherwise protest in front of) the Wade Corpn boss, George. When she couldn’t catch him in his office, she catches him in the sidewalk.
George thinks she has come for the interview. Amazed at her answers, he offers her a job. When he learns she is here to stop the destruction of the building, he offers her a proposal : If she joins her company and handle his problems, he will spare the building from destruction. Also she will get to do the charity out of his company’s fund.
Lucy agrees and suddenly she finds herself doing everything in that company. Rather everything for George, from making legal suggestions to sending flowers to his girlfriends. He became so dependent on her, virtually he had to depend on her for everything single and even simple decisions. Lucy at first enjoys her importance and all the razzle dazzle. But when she finds George literally taking away her private time because of his stupid dependency, she starts to hate the job. The final string comes off when George calls up Lucy when she is the best woman for her best friend Meryl’s (Heather Burns) wedding. And asks her to come down and it is an emergency. Lucy rushes to find only that George is not able to decide which shirt he should wear!!!
Lucy has had it and she announces that she is quitting and gives "Two Weeks Notice" to George. First George doesnt believe her, then when he sees she is serious, he tries to stop her. Finally he resigns to the fact that indeed she is leaving and quite determined about it. So he asks him to hire and train somebody in her place. Then she finds June Carter (Alicia Witt) a savvy young lawyer with questionable credentials (she is supposedly from the Harvard too). Before even Lucy could interview her, George hires her!! Lucy is feeling relieved and when she actually starts handing over everything to June, she feels a little jealous.
Even George has feelings for Lucy but is in a denial stage to himself and hence is reluctant to tell that to Lucy. More so he is unsure of her reactions. Do they express their love to each other? Do they get back together? Watch it on the Silver Screen (its ok if you watch it on your Computer Screen too :) )
Story (4/5)
Authentic story from Screenwriter and Director Marc Lawrence (Miss Congeniality, Forces of Nature). I dont think I have seen a similar story.
Plot (3/5)
Upto hiring June Carter, I felt the movie is going in right direction, but I felt the farewell fight stuff to be totally unnecessary... But for that amazing plot.
Comedy (3/5)
Wonderful comedy. Though not in the leagues of Mr.Bean or Will Smith, these are subtle and funny. Especially I love the highway-loo-on-a-caravan sequence....
Cast (4/5)
Since Sandra is the producer, its no wonder that she is in the lead role. But Hugh Grant is the correct person. No one else can portray such a character with such ease and elegance. Alicia Witt is ok. and thats it. Rest just come and go.
Movie pace (3/5)
OK. This is the correct word. Good pace from starting upto resignation. From there onwards it is a slow train......
Cinematography (3/5)
Spectacular. some scenes like the Chrysler building from the copter, the set on Fulton’s Landing under the Brooklyn bridge for the circus-theme party, the full lit Brooklyn bridge just steal your eyes for sometime.
Direction (3/5)
Pretty decent. no experimentation on characters. He let the actors to play to their strength. Thats why you see Hugh Grant doing what he does great in most movies: Looking like a total stupid kid. Kudos to Lawrence.
Final Verdict (3/5)
Good "Authentic" Story unlike the "maids" of "manhattan" who ripped it off from Cinderalla.
Good looking Hugh & Sandra fitting their roles and acting well too.
Some spectacular shots to watch
Funny sequences and ever-funny Hugh
So I would say, why not, pick it up and watch it on Wednesday night....(why? it will cheer you up when your brain is all set for Friday evening and your efficiency levels drop below 2 digits)