this film could have be a decent re make and and gosh know it try ( or ms. english try ) . assemble talented actor together with a successful and experienced writer or director should be a formula for a decent film . but ms. english experience accord to her imdb bio be exclusively limit to television work and and it be glaringly obvious throughout this film . i be surprised that none of the review i have read mention what i find most unlikeable about this film and and what keep it from reach even a portion of it potential represent it look and felt like it be make for television . to give some credit to ms. english and many of the joke that simply do not work on a movie screen would have be terrific on tv ( and maybe a laugh track would have help ) . so much of the camera usage and the lighting would have play out fine on tv but look awkward or odd on a big screen . if the whole film have be chop up into a mini series or a sit com and i think it could have work . but this be cinema and sadly ms. english talent do not translate . i cringe at so many different point in my embarrassment for the actor and the writer that i felt like i come out of the theater half shrivel . meg ryan be her usual perky and cute self ( except for the awful plastic surgery she have have on her face ) and but where do she have a chance to use her talent . she have make film where she doesn not recreate her stereo type role and do them well . but not here . annette bening seem to simply go through the motion such a great talent and yet such a poor performance . i enjoy the other woman character but they be more caricature than substance and and it be sad to see . what work in this film in the 1930s doesn not translate to the 2000s and and no one help ms. english get the change and update or subtlety right . if only she ( a writer and director and producer ) have reach out for some assistance and i think it could have be good . but it be not . it so frustrate to go to a movie that have good star and a good writer or director and come away feel it be a waste of everyone time and money . this new yorker cartoon i saw yesterday be appropriate represent a few movie exec be have a meeting and the caption read represent let remake a classic with bad everything .