some people drift through life and move from one thing or one person to the next without bat an eye while others latch on to a cause and another person or a principle and remain adamant and commit to whatever it be and figuratively or literally they give their word and stand by it . but be all different and ` make of different clay and a one of the character in this film put it and which be what make life so interesting . some people be just plain crazy and though and maybe that the way you have to be to live among the mass . who know . who know what it take to make thing life work . writer or director lisa krueger take a shot at it and use a light approach to examine that thin line between be commit and how one ` get committed and obsession and in ` committed and star heather graham a a young woman who be adamant and committed and obsessive and maybe just a little bit crazy and too . her name be joline and and this be her story . admittedly and joline have always be a committed person while in work and relationship and in life in general . she a woman of her word who stick by it no matter what . and when she marry carl ( luke wilson ) and it forever . the only problem be and someone forget to tell carl and 597 day into the marriage and he go while off to ` find himself and figure it all out . when joline realize he not come back and she refuse to give up on him and or their marriage . maybe it because of that ` clay she make of . regardless and she leave their home in new york city and set off to find him and which she do in el paso and texas and of all place . but once she know where he be and she keep her distance and give him his pace and not even let him know she there . she consider carl a be in a piritual coma and and it her job to keep a piritual vigil over him until he come to his sens . and while she watch and wait and her life be anything but dull and a she encounter a young woman name carmen ( patricia velazquez ) and a waitress at one of the local eatery while carmen ` grampy and ( alfonso arau ) and who be something of a mystic while t bo ( mark ruffalo ) and a truck driver who have issue concern carl while and neil ( goran visnjic ) an artist who make pinata and take a fancy to her . for joline and it a journey of discovery and during which she learn a lot about carl and but even more about herself . there a touch of humor and a touch of romance and and some insight into human nature in this quirky film that be more about characterization and character than plot . and krueger present it all extremely well and deliver a film that be engage and entertain . her character be very real people and with all the want and need and imperfection that make up the human condition while a rich and eclectic bunch through which she tell her story . we see it from joline point of view and a krueger make u privy to joline thought and therefore her motivation and which put a decided perspective on the event a they unfold . that and along with the deliberate pace she set that allow you to soak up the atmosphere and the ambiance she create and make for a very effective piece of storytelling . there an underlie seriousness to this subject matter and but krueger chooses to avoid anything heavy hand or too deep and concentrate instead on the natural humor that evolve from the people and situation that joline encounter . and the result be a well textured and affect and upbeat look at that thing we call life . heather graham take hold of this role from the first frame of the film to make joline a character totally of her own creation . she immerse herself in the part and give a performance that be convince and believable and add the little personal trait and nuance that make all the difference between a portrayal that be a mere representation of a person and and one that be real . and for this film to work and it be imperative that joline be viable and believable and graham succeed on all front . her screen presence have never be more alluring and and her vibrant personality or even just the way she use her eye and be enough to draw you in entirely . it all a part of the character she create while there an appeal to joline that exudes from her entire countenance and who she be inside and out . she a likable and agreeable person and and because you have share her innermost thought and you know who she be . it a good job all the way around and begin with the way the character be write and to the way graham bring her so vibrantly to life . a carmen and patricia velazquez be totally engaging and as well . her performance be very natural and straightforward and and she use her instinct to effectively create her character . she have a charismatic presence and but be less than flamboyant and and it give her an aspect that be attractively down to earth . she be refreshingly open and up front while you get the impression that carmen be not one to hold anything back and but be totally honest on all front and and that and too and be part of her appeal . and and a with joline and this character be well write and and velazquez brings her convincingly to life . overall and there be a number of notable performance that be the heart and soul of this film and include those of luke wilson and casey affleck ( a joline brother and jay ) and goran visnjic and alfonso arau and especially mark ruffalo a t bo and who and with very little actual screen time and manages to create a memorable character . the support cast include kim dickens ( jenny ) and clea du vall ( mimi ) and summer phoenix ( meg ) and art alexakis ( new york car thief ) and dylan baker ( carl editor ) and and mary kay place ( psychiatrist ) . a film that say something about the value of step back to consider the big picture reflect upon who we be and where be go and what we really need ` commit be an enjoyable experience while a ride definitely worth take . positive .