Maid In Manhattan
(2002)
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Director Wayne Wang (THE JOY LUCK CLUB, SMOKE) updates the familiar Cinderella story in this charming romantic comedy. Jennifer Lopez stars as Marissa Ventura, a beautiful young woman who divides her time between her precocious son Ty (Tyler Posey) and her housekeeping duties at The Beresford, an upscale Manhattan hotel. When the boyish and affluent politician Christopher Marshall (Ralph Fiennes) shares an amusing elevator ride with Ty, he subsequently meets Marissa. As luck would have it, Marissa is mischievously sporting an exotic Dolce & Gabbana gown belonging to another Beresford tenant, and is mistaken by Christopher as a guest of the hotel. The two undeniably hit it off, but Marissa is unable to reveal her working-class secret, afraid of losing her job. Christopher is completely smitten and makes numerous attempts to locate her, despite the comedic fact she is often right under his nose. While the film is always lighthearted and fun, it does not shy away from foregrounding race and class issues, devoting much screen time to Marissa's coworkers and their struggles to survive. As a rags-to-riches fairy tale, MAID IN MANHATTAN hits all the right notes. |
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Smoke director Wayne Wang swaps originality and sophistication for feel-good froth in this undemanding and predictable Cinderella story. Based on a story by John Hughes (writing as Edmond Dantes) — with more than a passing nod to Pretty Woman — this sugary fairy tale is as simplistic as it is traditional. Ralph Fiennes piles on the charm as a would-be senatorial candidate who falls for Manhattan hotel maid and single parent Jennifer Lopez in the mistaken belief she's a socialite. Comic mishaps and schmaltzy soul-searching ensue, as Lopez tries to hide her humble roots and Fiennes doggedly pursues the opportunity for true love. It's join-the-dots entertainment at its most calculating — with Lopez and Fiennes unconvincing in their respective roles — but there's still enough warmth and high Hollywood gloss to give it wide appeal.