Directed and written by James L. Brooks, starring Reese Witherspoon, Owen Wilson, Paul Rudd and Jack Nicholson

When everything she’s ever known is suddenly taken from her, Lisa (Witherspoon) begins a fling with Matty (Wilson), a major league baseball player and self-centred ladies man. Before their relationship takes off, Lisa meets up with George (Rudd) a straight-arrow businessman facing his own serious issues, both with his father (Nicholson) and the law. Just when everything seems to be falling apart, they discover what it means to have something wonderful happen.

OK, although Hollywood overlooks punctuation (no question mark in title) and the not inconsiderable slating the press gave this little comedy, I go to say I thought it was great. It’s by no means the best comedy of the year (hard to beat Simon Pegg’s “Paul” so far) it has a definate charm and I was left wondering why the press thought it was so naff. The script was great and the acting good (especially Wilson’s Matty), and I picked up the best ‘positive thinking’ line in a movie this year, namely “Figure out what you want and then learn how to ask for it.” So I’m going to stick my neck on the line and say, go see this film.

Verdict: A really delightful comedy with some great one-liners and nice acting. ***1/2