Open Doors to Romance
Paltrow Shines in New Romantic Comedy

Every once in a while, a film comes along that makes the audience think. I'm not just talking about a movie having a "deep" subject, but also a story line that is somewhat difficult to follow. Some people go to the movies to escape, and the last thing they want is to have to think too hard about the plot. But sometimes the extra effort is rewarding.

Case in point, the new Gwyneth Paltrow film, Sliding Doors. While it is billed as a romantic comedy, it has a twist so integral to the plot that being able to follow the twist is essential to understanding the story. At the preview I attended, two couples obviously couldn't follow what was happening and left. I sympathize, but they missed out on a great film.

The story of Sliding Doors is a little complex. Helen (Paltrow) is a public relations woman living in London. One morning she goes to work only to find that she is fired. She leaves the office and heads home, but as she races to catch the subway the doors close in front of her. Then the scene rewinds and she catches the subway before the doors shut. From that moment on, Helen is living two lives in two worlds, one in which she caught the subway and one where she didn't.

We all wonder from time to time what our lives would be like if we turned left instead of right, or got off the elevator on the second floor instead of the third. Helen is lucky enough to live both lives (although she is only vaguely aware of her other existence). One Helen made it home in the middle of the day to catch her boyfriend, Jerry (John Lynch), cheating on her with his former girlfriend, Lydia (Jeanne Tripplehorn). The other Helen is suspicious but not certain.

All of the switching from Helen 1 to Helen 2 is made easier when one Helen decides to change her hair color in an act of liberation. Now the Helen is one who made the subway and caught her boyfriend wears short, blonde hair, while the clueless Helen has long, brown hair.

Entering blonde Helen's life is James (John Hannah, Four Weddings and a Funeral), a man who keeps popping up at all the right times to charm her. Meanwhile, Jerry continues to deceive the brown-haired Helen while he reluctantly continues his affair with Lydia.

Paltrow is charming as both Helens. While she begins in the middle of the road, the audience sees a definite change in both women after they go to the subway. Although the blonde Helen is initially devastated by Jerry's infidelity, she soon becomes stronger, more assertive, and a better person. The brown-haired Helen, following the loss of her job, refuses to bounce back. Instead, she follows a downward path, becoming more dependant on Jerry and unable to summon the inner strength to start over.

Hannah is delightful and charming as the new man in Helen's life. His carefree attitude is tempered by his genuine concern for her welfare. The man also has a strange sense of humor that is infectious, and brings a smile to Helen's face when she needs it most.

Sliding Doors has the potential of being overlooked as an "art film," because of it's unusual story. In truth, it is no harder to follow than Jimmy Stewart's role as George Bailey in It's a Wonderful Life. There too we saw how life could have been different, but the alternate reality didn't take place until the end of the movie. Here Helen lives both lives simultaneously, forcing the audience to pay close attention.

I heartily recommend Sliding Doors to anyone who enjoys a new twist every now and then. It is a touching and sad film, but completely romantic. The film is rated R for some sexuality and language.

MY RATING: 9 out of 10.

RATED: R
RUN TIME: 100 min.