Jack and Miles (Thomas Haden Church and Paul Giamatti) are best friends who decide to take a week’s vacation in the wine country along California’s central coast, for tasting, dining and golf prior to Jack’s wedding. Although they are long time friends, two peas in a pod they are not. Miles’s idea of a good time is fine wine at a gourmet restaurant after a day of golfing. Jack can skip the golf and drink wine from a carton if it leads to bedding the ladies.

Both men are in personal crisis mode, at that critical 40-something crossroads. Miles is emotionally stuck on his divorce of two years ago. Depression is an understatement. He hopes that his book, "The Day After Yesterday"¾ which elicits the response, "Oh, you mean today," from Maya (Virginia Madsen), will find a publisher with a push from his agent. His teaching job brings zero fulfillment. If not for his love of wine and his friendship with Jack, he would probably commit suicide.

Jack is an over the hill actor who never got close to the top. His credits have been relegated to voice-over commercials on exciting products like mortgage refinancing. He’s getting married on Saturday but does he want to be tied down? For sure he wants to have sex with as many women as possible before his wedding night.

The wonderful metaphor of wine to real life is one aspect of the intelligent and thoughtful dialogue throughout the film. Writers Alexander Payne (who directs the film) and Tim Taylor also wrote "Election" and "About Schmidt." Each of the films deals with issues of self-discovery, at any age.

Miles goes to his favorite restaurant, hoping to see Maya, a waitress there who shares a mutual knowledge and love of wine. Miles is technically on the ball on judging wine while Maya knows how wine fits into life. She wisely points out to him that it’s possible for a wine to be held so long that it may to be too late to appreciate the best that it has to offer. The relationship that develops between Maya and Miles may be the best romantic comedy in years. Good things should happen to good people but wanting it to be does not make it so.

There are poignant moments here; like Miles’s conversation with his ex-wife at the wedding, and when he comes to a realization about Jack, there’s a definite spark of recognition. Laugh out loud moments come from the unexpected source of Jack and the relationship he has with Stephanie (Sandra Oh). She’s a needy yet independent, though irresponsible single mother, who like Jack is quick to jump in the sack for a one-night stand. The difference is that she is hoping it develops into a long-term relationship while Jack is only interested in sex.

"Sideways" is not only fun but there is so much going on that although you get it the first time, you might want to see it again.

George’s Take: This movie certainly has the potential to help you think about how best to deal with "The Day after Yesterday," yes, that’s today.

Pam’s Take: It’s a definite road trip movie for anyone who’s trying to grow up and out of a static situation in life. The dialogue alone is worth the price of admission.