30 Second Bottom Line: A case of mistaken identity upends the secure life of a hotel maid when a senatorial candidate mistakes her for a socialite and decides to woo her.
Story Line: Single mom Marisa Ventura knows the ropes and doesn't want to rock the boat. A respected member of the housekeeping staff at the posh New York Beresford Hotel, she is in line for a promotion to a managerial position. She is well liked among the other employees who often help look out for her son when she has to work.
Responsible, reliable, trustworthy-these are Marisa's hallmarks. So it is surprising when she agrees to try on an expensive designer outfit that is hanging in a guest's room. Perhaps it is a rare moment of frivolity or the peer pressure from her pushy best friend that spurs her to make this life-altering decision. In any case, when her son Ty shows up with eligible bachelor, senatorial candidate Christopher Marshall and his dog in tow, her stable, predictable life is thrown out the window.
Chris assumes she is a guest at the hotel and is immediately smitten. Playing along, Marisa only digs herself deeper and finds she is falling for this handsome man from the other side of the social world. When a competing suitor recognizes Marisa and blows the whistle, she loses her job and seemingly Chris' affections as well.
Tell Me More About It: A Cinderella story that is being compared to "Pretty Woman" and "Working Girl," "Maid in Manhattan" is a similarly veined romantic comedy that capitalizes on the socio-economic disparity between its principal players. The twist is that Feinnes' character assumes they are both members of the same strata.
Actually, Chris doesn't notice Marisa when she is in uniform, cleaning his bathroom floor or serving him lunch-she is almost invisible to him. It is telling that he does notice her when she is decked out in a designer suit in the doorway of the hotel's poshest suite. His playboy reputation is alluded to in the film, and his senate seat is an inherited position from his father and grandfather rather than something he aspires to. In fact, it is remarkable how easily a beautiful woman distracts this man. Speeches and appearances are thrown to the wayside as soon as he meets the mysterious Marisa. What kind of senator is this guy going to be? Who is really doing the pretending here?
Like the aforementioned films, we know the outcome of this lighter-than-air confection but to its credit "Maid in Manhattan" manages to make a few satiric jabs at the class structure in our society within its familiar framework. Nasty asides like "she's only the maid" from Caroline's best friend, Caroline's thoughtless regard for Marisa's time and campaign manager Jerry's concern about what the voters will think comically point out an ugly truth.
Jennifer Lopez' Bronx roots are apparent in her comfortable portrayal of the hard working Marisa. She lends a quiet dignity to this proud woman. Bob Hoskins is equally appealing in his John Gielgud spin as Lionel, the all-knowing English butler. Newcomer Stephanie Kehoe is infectious as Marisa's best friend, and Ty Garcia Posey steals the movie as Marisa's savvy young son, who is fascinated by the 70's and regularly spouts remarks about Richard Nixon. Nice touch.
With angst-ridden roles in heavy dramas like "The English Patient,""Wuthering Heights," "Schindler's List" and a variety of Shakespeare, Ralph Fiennes' presence in this piece of fluff is disconcerting. Admittedly, an aristocratic demeanor is a necessity for the character of Christopher Marshall and Feinnes fills the bill. It is also refreshing to see him appear in a lowly comedy for a change. Kind of like a senator dating the hotel maid.
A catty aside: In these days of bleaching, braces and porcelain crowns, it is amazing that Ralph Fiennes' teeth are in such bad shape. Even the ads for this film show Fiennes in a tight-lipped smile. A romantic lead requires straight pearly whites. Perhaps its just that whole British bad mouth thing (note Robert Carlyle), but Fiennes should take a cue from Hugh Grant whose mess of a mouth is now Matt Damon perfect.
Soundtrack
