Film Review: Maid in Manhattan

Buzz has it that Sandra Bullock and Hilary Swank passed on the lead role in this film before Jennifer Lopez made it her own and the superstar got the full brunt of what it means to be an invisible servant. When she walked through the Waldorf-Astoria hotel in her regular clothes, she got mobbed by fans and press. She'd walk through in her maid's outfit and nobody even saw her! Maid in Manhattan is meant to point out this unfair difference.

Marisa Ventura (Jennifer Lopez) works as a maid in the fancy Beresford hotel in New York to support herself and her 10-year-old son Ty (Tyler Garcia Posey) whom she often brings to work with her. While working in the suite of rich, snobby socialite Caroline Lane (Natasha Richardson), a fellow maid talks Marisa into trying on some posh clothes. Meanwhile, senatorial candidate Christopher Marshall (Ralph Fiennes) has befriended Ty, who loves Marshall's huge dog Rufus. Ty drags Marshall to the suite and the politician mistakes Marisa for the rich Caroline. Marshall is immediately smitten with her.

Thus starts a courtship based on a lie. Marisa doesn't want to encourage Marshall. She realizes it's impossible and she could use her hard-won job and the chance at an upcoming promotion to management. But, she falls hard. Despite differences, will this Cinderella story end happily?

This is a corny, formula film but it's well written and acted and dialogue is clever. One of the writers wrote Working Girl and I loved that one. Jennifer Lopez is playing close to home here, a Puerto Rican girl who gets a chance at the big time and she's quite believable. She's also great as a mom. Ralph Fiennes is a little "stiff" and "awkward" but he's supposed to be an upper crust guy looking for some down home roots and, although some have said he's miscast, I enjoyed him in the role. Whether he's bowled over or just confused by Jennifer's character, you get his fascination.

Natasha Richardson is very funny as a desperate rich gal who latches onto Fiennes like a barracuda in heat. Bob Hoskins has a nice mentor role as a butler who is about to explode from so many years biting his tongue in front of rude hotel guests. There is no new territory explored here but the message is a laudable one. No matter what strata of society we are from we can each learn something from the other. Jennifer's character opens politician Ralph's eyes to the real social problems of the city and he lets her know that she can be "all that she can be". You get the drift.

I've gotta say it though, Jennifer, if a girl has a huge booty like yours, don't go wearing white pants and a tight-fitting coat that rides up in the back because it just can't cover the territory...otherwise, that pink dress is killer!

You'll enjoy the pretty clothes and pretty people. It's a class act and a fun date flick.

I'll give this one 3.5 stars for an entertaining, romantic romp.

***

Lynn Barker is a Hollywood-based entertainment journalist and produced screenwriter.