BASIC IDEA, WE ALL WONDER WHAT IF:
How many times do we have an opportunity to have an insignificant event play an important point in our life, that we don't even realize the significance. This was the fundamental thrust in the movie. Timing. What forces out there guide (or not) our lives? How much is chance and how much is destiny? If you believe the director/writer in this story, only one path works. This was the part I didn't like.

BASIC STORY:
Gwyneth Paltrow's character is involved with a two timing boyfriend, who's lack of character and overbearing mistress dominate both their lives. Due to a minor change in timing one version takes Gwyneth's character out of his life. In the other scenerio, she falls prey to her unconfirmed doubts. Both of their lives continue and the story ends at another crossroads. I can't say more without giving it away. However, I think the director, could have handled it a bit more creatively and even handedly.

DARK VERSUS LIGHT:
The comedy is dark in some situations as you see how manipulated and domineered Gwyneth's character becomes by her situation, while remaining in the louse of a boyfriend's life. Ironically, the darker scenario, her hair is dark. And the lighter (kind of) scenario, her hair is light. In this situation once she gets on with her life with another man, the comedy is light and whimsical. A bit too obvious however. The drudge versus the successful working woman

HATED SOME OF THE ENDING:
The only major flaw I find in the movie is the ending. This was a bit too much. Is this the directors punishment for all the strong determined woman out there, who have dumped their louses? What were you thinking? Shame on you.

It was an interesting movie that was at time a bit predictable at times but enjoyable none the less. One wonderfully hysterical part of it was the dialogue between Jerry and his (sympathetic?) mate at the bar. How many louses expect sympathy for their situation. This guy was for real. Also, the British humor was wonderful. What does bollux mean?

Paltrow isn't able to display anything close to her full range here, even though the film amounts to a vehicle for her. The clever plot idea is to show her life under one set of circumstances (she misses the train and doesn't meet James) and "a road not taken" (she catches the train and does meet James) in alternating cuts. Surprisingly it works fairly well. To keep us from getting confused, her hair goes short and blonde in one set and long and dark in the other. I like her better with dark hair. She looks more glamorous. I was surprised to notice that back-to-back adoring reviews on Amazon were written by eleven and twelve-year-old girls. When I think about it, that's kind of nice, since this is a sweet movie and those tough little critics are an appropriate audience (along with me, I guess), and this is an advisory tale about the nature of men, illustrating that you have to be careful about whom you choose when you're following your heart.

Most fun in the movie is the dirty deeds done by Lydia, (Jeanne Tripplehorn) Helen's rival for Gerry. To humiliate working girl Helen she has her deliver sandwiches and then claims she got food poisoning. To really trash her, Lydia sends her on a phony job interview at her apartment in time to catch her with weasel-willed Gerry while announcing that she's pregnant by same. Our girl's knees buckle, but she stands tall through all the heart-break.

This goes on for most of the movie. In the end there are some interesting twists.

The concept and acting are great, but maybe it could have been a little better worked out. It also looks more like a tv-movie instead of a feature movie, which can be seen in the lighting.