REVIEWS

"SLIDING DOORS"

For once, a romantic comedy that I wasn't dragged to see. As a matter of fact, I was pretty intrigued by the concept of "Sliding Doors." In case you don't know, the movie has two parallel stories going on, both revolving around an English woman (Gwyneth Paltrow). One storyline is about where her life goes after she misses a train, the second is about how different it would be if she caught it on time. The concept was interesting to me, and I heard several good reports from people I know, so I went to see it.

This is Gwyneth Paltrow's movie, and she's great in it. Her English accent is flawless, she has great charisma, and she's a total delight on-screen. No one who watches this movie will ever think of her as just Brad Pitt's ex-girlfriend.

The rest of the cast is good, too. John Hannah is very good as "James," a true gentleman with a sense of humor. John Lynch is excellent as "Gerry," the two-timing boyfriend with a conscience. Jeanne Tripplehorn is "Lydia," also known as "the other woman." Her role is pretty much a cliché, but it seems to work.

"Sliding Doors" was written and directed by Peter Howitt, and this is his debut as both. He's been a small-time actor for a while, but he proves to have talent in other areas, as well.

The film does drag at times, but not horribly so. I was entertained by "Sliding Doors," and Gwyneth Paltrow is a major reason. The ending, although somewhat predictable, is very satisfying. So there you have it. I liked another chick movie. So sue me.

Scale of 1-10: 7