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Maid in Manhattan
Columbia/Tri-Star // PG-13 // March 25, 2003
List Price: $27.98 [Buy now and save at Amazon]
The Movie:
While some of the stories that circulated around the production made it seem not particularly promising (the story credit is given to one "Edmond Dantes", which is the name that writer/director John Hughes uses when he doesn't want to be associated with a project), "Maid in Manhattan" is a fluffy charmer, lead by a fine Jennifer Lopez performance.
While I remain fairly indifferent towards her music, I've continued to praise Lopez for her performances. Lopez continues to provide convincing efforts (even in the terrible "Angel Eyes") and shows fine comedic timing. Here, she plays Marisa Ventura, a maid at a four-star Manhattan hotel. One morning, she and another maid try on some of the designer outfits of a visitor named Caroline (Natasha Richardson).
What could have been a minor mistake turns into a meet cute when she's spotted by politician Christopher Marshall (Ralph Fiennes), who thinks that she's one of the guests at the hotel. The two hit it off and it turns into a case of mistaken identity, as Marisa has to try and keep up appearances with Christopher, while also working at the hotel.
In other words, we've all been here before. The film is light and rather forgettable, but it's still carried nicely by the two stars. While Lopez and Fiennes don't share a great deal of chemistry, their performances are strong. Fiennes especially seems a bit mis-cast in a romantic comedy, but he fits in quite well. The film also has a very capable supporting cast, including a terrific Stanley Tucci and an enjoyably over-the-top Natasha Richardson. I was also pleased to see Chris Eigeman ("Barcelona", "Last Days of Disco") as one of the hotel managers and Bob Hoskins as a butler. Some of the supporting maid roles could have been more well-defined, though.
Eventually, "Maid in Manhattan" simply falls prey to predictability. The actors likable, the story is pleasant enough, but we know where it's headed and it isn't getting there fast enough. The film's casual feel and low-key approach don't help either; the film really feels like it needs a boost of energy at times. Jennifer Lopez, who is unfortunately more read about these days for her fashion and current relationship than her talent, is very good here. If she's this good with ordinary material, I can't wait to see what she can do when she finally gets an extraordinary part. She needs another "Out of Sight", the role that really launched her acting career.
The DVD
VIDEO: "Maid in Manhattan" is presented by Columbia/Tristar in 2.35:1 anamorphic widescreen and 1.33:1 full-frame. As always, the widescreen version is the recommended edition to watch. In terms of this film, that's especially the case - cinematographer Karl Walter Lindenlaub's compositions are severly cropped on the full-frame edition. The anamorphic widescreen presentation is a perfectly satisfactory presentation, with only a few minor faults scattered about. Sharpness and detail are very pleasant, as fine detail is present in many scenes.
The only problem keeping this from being a very nice effort from the studio is that usual issue: edge enhancement. While never severe, mild amounts were noticable in several scenes. The print used remained a notch or two below perfect, as well, since a couple of light specks were seen on an occasion or two. On a positive note, no compression artifacts were spotted.
The film's bright, vivid color palette was reproduced quite beautifully on the DVD. Colors looked accurately rendered, nicely saturated and crisp. Black level also remained solid, while flesh tones looked natural. Not without some issues, but a fairly nice presentation, nonetheless.
SOUND: "Maid in Manhattan" is presented by Columbia/Tristar in Dolby Digital 5.1. Although some of the songs are presented in a way that hints at a more immersive, enveloping experience, this mostly remains a standard "comedy" soundtrack. Surrounds essentially go unused, and aside from dialogue, occasional music and rare ambience are present.
EXTRAS: For such a big hit, I was greatly surprised to see that the only features included on this release are a handful of trailers (including one for the upcoming "Charlie's Angels" sequel).
Final Thoughts: A very cute, light Cinderella story, Jennifer Lopez and Ralph Fiennes really do their best to liven up material that just never quite comes together. "Maid" still makes for a very nice date-night rental, though. Columbia/Tristar's DVD is a very nice presentation, with fine audio/video quality. The lack of supplements is surprising, though. Recommended as a purchase for fans, but a rental for those who haven't seen it.
While some of the stories that circulated around the production made it seem not particularly promising (the story credit is given to one "Edmond Dantes", which is the name that writer/director John Hughes uses when he doesn't want to be associated with a project), "Maid in Manhattan" is a fluffy charmer, lead by a fine Jennifer Lopez performance.
While I remain fairly indifferent towards her music, I've continued to praise Lopez for her performances. Lopez continues to provide convincing efforts (even in the terrible "Angel Eyes") and shows fine comedic timing. Here, she plays Marisa Ventura, a maid at a four-star Manhattan hotel. One morning, she and another maid try on some of the designer outfits of a visitor named Caroline (Natasha Richardson).
What could have been a minor mistake turns into a meet cute when she's spotted by politician Christopher Marshall (Ralph Fiennes), who thinks that she's one of the guests at the hotel. The two hit it off and it turns into a case of mistaken identity, as Marisa has to try and keep up appearances with Christopher, while also working at the hotel.
In other words, we've all been here before. The film is light and rather forgettable, but it's still carried nicely by the two stars. While Lopez and Fiennes don't share a great deal of chemistry, their performances are strong. Fiennes especially seems a bit mis-cast in a romantic comedy, but he fits in quite well. The film also has a very capable supporting cast, including a terrific Stanley Tucci and an enjoyably over-the-top Natasha Richardson. I was also pleased to see Chris Eigeman ("Barcelona", "Last Days of Disco") as one of the hotel managers and Bob Hoskins as a butler. Some of the supporting maid roles could have been more well-defined, though.
Eventually, "Maid in Manhattan" simply falls prey to predictability. The actors likable, the story is pleasant enough, but we know where it's headed and it isn't getting there fast enough. The film's casual feel and low-key approach don't help either; the film really feels like it needs a boost of energy at times. Jennifer Lopez, who is unfortunately more read about these days for her fashion and current relationship than her talent, is very good here. If she's this good with ordinary material, I can't wait to see what she can do when she finally gets an extraordinary part. She needs another "Out of Sight", the role that really launched her acting career.
The DVD
VIDEO: "Maid in Manhattan" is presented by Columbia/Tristar in 2.35:1 anamorphic widescreen and 1.33:1 full-frame. As always, the widescreen version is the recommended edition to watch. In terms of this film, that's especially the case - cinematographer Karl Walter Lindenlaub's compositions are severly cropped on the full-frame edition. The anamorphic widescreen presentation is a perfectly satisfactory presentation, with only a few minor faults scattered about. Sharpness and detail are very pleasant, as fine detail is present in many scenes.
The only problem keeping this from being a very nice effort from the studio is that usual issue: edge enhancement. While never severe, mild amounts were noticable in several scenes. The print used remained a notch or two below perfect, as well, since a couple of light specks were seen on an occasion or two. On a positive note, no compression artifacts were spotted.
The film's bright, vivid color palette was reproduced quite beautifully on the DVD. Colors looked accurately rendered, nicely saturated and crisp. Black level also remained solid, while flesh tones looked natural. Not without some issues, but a fairly nice presentation, nonetheless.
SOUND: "Maid in Manhattan" is presented by Columbia/Tristar in Dolby Digital 5.1. Although some of the songs are presented in a way that hints at a more immersive, enveloping experience, this mostly remains a standard "comedy" soundtrack. Surrounds essentially go unused, and aside from dialogue, occasional music and rare ambience are present.
EXTRAS: For such a big hit, I was greatly surprised to see that the only features included on this release are a handful of trailers (including one for the upcoming "Charlie's Angels" sequel).
Final Thoughts: A very cute, light Cinderella story, Jennifer Lopez and Ralph Fiennes really do their best to liven up material that just never quite comes together. "Maid" still makes for a very nice date-night rental, though. Columbia/Tristar's DVD is a very nice presentation, with fine audio/video quality. The lack of supplements is surprising, though. Recommended as a purchase for fans, but a rental for those who haven't seen it.
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