How did Diane Lane become cinema's divorcee of choice? What conspired to make someone as ridiculously attractive as Lane filmmakers' go-to sad-sack single lady? Do these people have eyes? Do her imaginary ex-husbands have eyes? Do studio execs think we have eyes?

Diane Lane Credit: Walt Disney Pictures

As unlikely it is that the beautiful 40-year-old actress would play a recently divorced, lonely woman (her last go at it was 2003's Under the Tuscan Sun) here she is as recently divorced, lonely Sarah in Must Love Dogs. Directed by "Family Ties" and "Spin City" creator Gary David Goldberg, "Dogs" follows the meet-cute, face-obstacle, race-to-stop-the-big-mistake formula of films like Fever Pitch and Bridget Jones.

Diane Lane Credit: Walt Disney Pictures

Sarah, divorced and dateless for eight months, has a big, boisterous family that endlessly brings her photos of eligible "friends." Her pushy sister, Carol (Elizabeth Perkins, delivering the script's best zingers), gets proactive and posts Sarah on an online dating service, ending her ad with Must love dogs.

John Cusack in Must Love Dogs Credit: Walt Disney Pictures

Across town, equally single and lonely Jake (John Cusack) endlessly rewatches Doctor Zhivago. Jake is like an older Lloyd Dobler, if he had decided to go into boat-making instead of dare-to-be-great situations. Cusack, who has been hit-and-miss in romantic comedies since his seminal role as Dobler in the 1989 charmer Say Anything, lends babbling intensity to Jake. He reluctantly answers her personal ad and they meet in a dog park with borrowed dogs. Things go well, then badly.