Nick and Jane

This is a great directorial debut from someone to watch out for. The characters are genuine and the story is very real. It's really the perfect date movie and I'm glad that it received the acclaim that it received. All of the secondary characters and cameos are well-placed and the pacing is very smooth. Let's see more!

As the punny title suggests, "Nick and Jane" delivers everything you'd expect from a typical romantic comedy, with a little twist. While I found the secondary story involving Jane's professional life a bit uninteresting, this is a romantic comedy first and foremost, and thankfully it works. And what makes it work so well is the chemistry between Dana Wheeler-Nicholson and James McCaffrey. It's that "are they a couple in real life?" sort of chemistry. (To my knowledge, they're not.) Wheeler-Nicholson doesn't always convince me when she's working alongside the other actors in the movie, but McCaffrey is so good that he brings out the best in her, and I for one fell for their storybook romance hook, line and sinker. The supporting cast is goofy but likable, especially David "Hot Hot Hot" Johansen and Clinton Leupp as two initially annoying gay stereotypes who turn out to be thoughtful, agreeable characters. A thoroughly sweet little movie that proves you don't need major stars to make a romantic comedy work. Still trying to figure out how such a low budget production got to incorporate a Bjork song into its soundtrack, but I'm not complaining.

Jane (Dana Wheeler-Nicholson) is a successful executive, fighting for a big account with a wealth client. Nick (James McCaffrey) is a broken taxi driver, living in a poor area of New York. One afternoon, Jane finds her colleague and boyfriend John in the bed with another women and she breaks her engagement with him. She gets a cab and has the first contact with Nick along the plot. Then, she decides to go to a party with her girlfriend, where she meets Nick and John, and she pretends to be dating with Nick. Further, she tells John that Nick is an important executive from another company. Nick is invited to participate in a brunch in Jane's company. She promises him US$ 1,500.00 to share this fake situation with her. What happens next, although predictable, will not disappoint fans of beautiful romantic comedy. The situations generated from this lie are funny and the crush of Nick and Jane is nice. I watched the trailer of this film a couple of days ago and got interested in see it. I liked it a lot. It is a low-budget movie, with unknown cast and very predictable, but also very enjoyable. The storyline is basically the same of 'Pretty Woman', with the sexes of the couple changed, but there is a great chemistry between Jane and Nick. The performance and direction work perfectly in a screenplay simple but credible, and the movie is a good entertainment. My vote is seven.

Title (Brazil): "Nick & Jane - Uma Grande Paixão" ("Nick & Jane - A Great Passion")

Jane (Dana Wheeler-Nicholson) is a high-powered investment banker trying to land a key account for her company. One day, she goes to her boyfriend's apartment, only to find him in bed with another woman. Distraught and confused, Jane rushes to the street and into the taxicab of Nick (James McCaffrey). Nick tries to console her while taking her home, all the while becoming interested in her. Some time later, he and Jane again cross paths at a local pub and exchange phone numbers. It seems Jane needs a date for a company party and she asks Nick to play the role of a businessman (and her new love interest) at this social gathering. At Jane's request, Nick even undergoes a complete makeover and emerges looking like the fulfillment of Jane's fondest wishes. Will Nick help Jane acquire the important account and win her heart at the same time?

This sweet story, with a cast of talented unknowns, is a low-key version of the film Picture Perfect. McCaffrey is very good as the diamond-in-the-rough romantic lead and Wheeler-Nicholson utterly charming as the object of his affections. The scenes in and around New York are an added enjoyment. Although this movie could never be called a "must-see", romantic comedy fans will find it an enjoyable watch for a lazy afternoon, especially those in search of lesser-known films of good quality.

After watching this comedy, you can't help but feel good. New York City looks great. The performances are believable, and the quirky characters are a nice touch.