Starring: Jennifer Lopez, Ralph Fiennes, Natasha Richardson, Marissa Matrone, Bob Hoskins, Amy Sedaris
Directed by: Wayne Wang
Running time: 105 mins
Cert: PG
Release date: 7th March

What's the story?
Hard-working, bright and determined young single mum Marisa Ventura (Jennifer Lopez) works as a maid in a swanky New York hotel, but dreams of a better life for her and her beloved 10-year-old son Ty (Tyler Garcia Posey).

When Marisa is let down by Ty's estranged father one Saturday, she is forced to bring him to work with her. Events then take the kind of peculiar turn that can only happen in a Hollywood movie. On a wander around the hotel, Ty meets Christopher Marshall (Ralph Fiennes), a handsome and prominent young politician and his adored dog Rufus. The two hit it off and Marshall invites Ty along to walk the dog with him - but not before asking his mom first.

Marisa is totally flummoxed when Ty and Christopher appear at the door of the suite she's supposed to be cleaning just as she's tried on some designer clothing (egged on by fellow maid Stephanie). Marshall is immediately smitten and invites Marisa out to join them too. Before she can say no, her cheeky friend Stephanie accepts for her...

What follows is a predictable story of love and mistaken identity, revolving around the conceit that Christopher doesn't know who Marisa really is. When he finds out, she loses her job and Christopher reluctantly cuts all ties with her. They are eventually reunited by young Ty and predictably live happily ever after.

Is it any good?
Jennifer Lopez puts in a convincing performance as a struggling young mum - pretty impressive considering she's obviously nothing like the down-to-earth 'Jenny from the block' she claims to be (how many single mums do you know who demand rooms be repainted in pure white before setting foot in them?). Ralph Fiennes, on the other hand, suffers badly in this role. He looks supremely uncomfortable playing a romantic lead, leaving the audience just as unconvinced. Or maybe he just looks uncomfortable for agreeing to take a role in this movie in the first place.

Everything about Maid in Manhattan is predictable and full of the usual Hollywood schmaltz. All well and good, if it's executed with wit and aplomb. But this film isn't, and the plot is flimsy - presumably the filmmakers had very low expectations of their target audience's brain cell count. But, it's a perfectly pleasant feel-good movie, which seems to have exceeded expectations at the US box office, despite being critically slammed. You'll probably have a perfectly pleasant time watching it and an even more pleasant one forgetting all about it.

Marks out of 10: Five