heavenstobetsy2013
Made the mistake of watching this on Netflix before reading any reviews. It seriously was the worst film I have ever had the misfortune of watching.The storyline was ridiculous; the actors were appalling. Sean Macguire I think was attempting to emulate Hugh Grant, but fell flat on his face. The female lead seemed to think she was Julia Roberts - she wasn't. Her ditsy, cutesy persona was incredibly irritating.I actually turned the film off after an hour, I couldn't bear it any longer.One hour of my life I can never get back
Amy Adler
Maggie (Jenna Mattison) is a free-spirited, aspiring writer in San Francisco. Although the city is a very expensive place to live, Maggie has two advantages over others. First, she doesn't own a car, being able to bicycle to work at a used bookstore. Second, her landlord adores her, so if she is late on the rent, at times, he doesn't evict her. Her only companion is a cat, for Mags doesn't want a romance in her life whatsoever. You see, her mother died when she was four and her father promptly gave her up for adoption. Her heart still stings, badly. She does have some galfriends, who are married ladies with busy agendas, and she is close to her boss, Lettie (Betty White), even though they work different shifts. O lucky day, however, when our Maggie uncovers an Aladdin type lamp in a desk at work. Rubbing it, she makes some wishes. Not long after this, in a very ancient copy of Great Expectations, Maggie first finds a ticket to a magic show. Then, a flight pass for a birdseye view of the city arrives next. There, two wishes granted. But, while waiting for the third, a handsome gentleman, Brandon (Sean Maguire) comes to the store and announces that Maggie has a secret "benefactor". Soon after, with Sean's help, Mags gets new clothes, a posh car, even a new apartment. But, the one thing Maggie can't learn is WHO the Daddy Warbucks-type really is. It's forbidden, Brandon says. Moreover, along with her other lucky new acquisitions, Maggie may be getting a romantic admirer in Brandon. Will she let a man into her heart? Finally, will her benefactor ever appear? This modern take on the Dickens classic GE has its charm, mostly due to its engaging leads. Mattison is a vibrant rebel while Maguire, who resembles Guy Pearce, is quite fine as her seeming opposite. White, as usual, is her great lovable self while the supporting cast, including Armand Assante, is nice as well. Then, too, the setting is great, as the Golden Gate City is wonderfully attractive, while costumes and photography keep pace. Therefore, the movie's weak points are its uneven script and direction. From one scene to the next, the action goes from sublime to somewhere above ridiculous but nowhere near successful. Nonetheless, fans of romantic comedy will adore it and, as the target audience, they will overlook any deficiencies.
madscientist30013
For some reason the Big Red Envelope company recommended this piece of tripe to us as something we would like. What a heap of moronic clichés. I won't even hint at the plot line or you would figure it out instantly like I did. I kept waiting for a twist or at least something original, but to no avail. The lead character, played by Jenna Mattison, is easily the most annoying women I've ever seen on screen. The sad thing is, she is supposed to be cute and endearing. And what's with the freakishly huge mouth and the constant smiling, even while telling the tragic story of her early childhood? As a fan of Mystery Science Theater I've sat through some awful pieces of cheese, but this one really got under my skin.