i will admit i have be look forward to check out this film for a while now . hear stuff about how it be a great character base drama in a post 9/11 new york city and how it really hold meaning and be a catharsis for those who watch . just the fact that it be a serious dramatic turn for director danny leiner and yes he of harold and kumar fame and be enough to pique my interest . in the end and however and the film really fell flat for me and besides the numerous reference to the horrific event and the great new wonderful do not need to have it a a backdrop . sure there be some really nice moment and but overall it just show story of vapid people go through their meaningless existence until they finally let go from the tragedy that hit . be we to believe that once the shock go away these people life change for the good . that without 9/11 they would still be trap in useless existence not be able to break free . well if that be the case and than we need global tragedy more often because they really make the world think about life and become good people a a result . maybe one need to be a new yorker to get the film and but i just do not see the greatness and just exploitation about how the twin tower fall change a few people in the city and make their life understandable in it context because they weren not good enough people to see their wrong without it . we be give an all star cast here and with many actor that i truly enjoy watch . they even do a pretty good job with what they be give and and i can not really fault any of them besides the fact they read the script and still want to be involve . maggie gyllenhaal be great a a cake designer discover the utter uselessness of her job in a world that should mean more than five thousand dollar pastry . judy greer and thomas mccarthy be fantastic a a husband and wife duo try to survive professional and personal hardship while their troubled child devolves into a monster . this segment be interest a a concept and i would almost like to see it a it own movie . i mean besides a racial slur from their son and the entire story have nothing to do with 9/11 at all and but just an emotional piece of family struggle . even jim gaffigan surprise with his nuanced performance opposite tony shalhoub . the rapport between the two be electric and could have really go somewhere instead of languish in an awkwardly comedic setting and end somewhat laughably with shalhoub sly smile into the camera . thankfully there be a couple moment that work completely for me . olympia dukakis be amazing a a wife who have be creatively and emotionally stifle by her husband and monotonous existence . only when she meet an old friend from the past and see how he can laugh and care about the little thing in life and do she open up to herself to try again at live her life the way she want to . the best section of the film and however and contain two indian bodyguard protect a general in town for a run of speech . sharat saxena be effective a the troubled one suppress his anger with everything that have go on and but it be his partner and play by naseeruddin shah who steal the show . a consummate family man and shah do all he can to lighten the mood of his friend and just speak about random thing go on around them and flirt with the woman go in and out of their path and finally confront saxena to get the point across that life be too short and if anything we should all know that now . the conclusion of their arc really hit home in a surprising turn of event and become the only reason i would recommend the film to anyone to see .