What would happen if by chance life had me walk past the movie Sliding Doors instead of spending the $9.99 on the previously viewed videotape. Would my life be any different? It’s an intriguing thought to ponder, one that I will do so within the context of this review. Don’t get me wrong, I’m not some whacked out there individual who has nothing better to do with his life…but it’s an interesting way to write a review—and I have nothing better to do this evening.

Sliding Doors is the perfect mixture of comedy, romance, heartbreak, and European accents. Gwyneth Paltrow finds herself living two different lives after fate and misfortune find her catching and missing a train on her way home early from work. One life arrives home early to find her boyfriend in bed with another woman. The other arrives home later on and misses catching him in the sack. From there the two lives travel between her trying to move on with her life and being hit upon by a gentleman, to the other where she slowly starts to unravel what her other life has already learned.

“The split-second moments that can take a life down one path instead of another form the tantalizing what if? in this delightful romantic…..” Great, another movie starring Gwyneth Paltrow as an innocent beauty who will undoubtedly spend at least a few scenes on the verge of crying. However, the box is interesting, no matter which way you flip it you can still read the taglines plus you can alternate between Paltrow with blond or brown hair. Hmm, maybe worth a second look. “Paltrow plays London publicist Helen, effortlessly sliding between parallel storylines that show what happens if she does or does not catch a morning train back to her apartment. Love. Romantic entanglements. Deception…..” Hmm, kind of sounds like what happened to her in Seven. Hope she doesn’t lose her head in this one.

Gwyneth Paltrow plays Helen a sacked London publicist who decides to move on with her life crossing between being a waitress and a designer who opens her own shop. The one Helen who caught her boyfriend in bed moves on with her life with successful outcomes. The other Helen is toyed with on a daily basis as she struggles in work. In what turns out to be quite an interesting turn of storytelling, the unaware Helen even delivers food to the girl that she caught in the other storyline in bed with her boyfriend. Being the witch she is, she blasts Helen for delivering food that caused everyone in her office to go home sick with food poisoning.

“…..Sliding Doors stands above the crowd….Gwyneth Paltrow is terrific!” ---The Wall Street Journal. I sometimes wonder exactly what came between the “….” whenever I read a quote from a critic or newspaper. Even worse, what is The Wall Street Journal doing reviewing a movie? Aren’t they all about business, stock quotes, financial earnings, projections, the economy….boring stuff like that? They seem like such a drab newspaper to be quoting a movie….and furthermore Sliding Doors stands above what crowd? I don’t seem to remember any other movie with even the slightest similarity to what I’m reading on the back of this box. Stands above who? While You Were Sleeping?

Even though the Sliding Doors theme carries on throughout the entire length of the picture, it’s the comedy and ultimate the extremely funny jokes and jabs that make this movie indeed perfect and Gwyneth Paltrow terrific! I especially liked any and all of the scenes that included John Hannah. He has great comedic timing, plus his lines are perfect jokes delivered perfectly. His lines are of a higher quality that I’ve seen in most comedy films that normally resort to just insults on anybody and everybody.

Co-starring John Hannah, isn’t he the guy from The Mummy. God, I hated his character.

Sliding Doors was written and directed by Peter Howitt who turns his first movie (at least his first movie that I’ve heard of) into a totally enjoyable picture. Sometimes I wonder if first-time directors who turn out movies of such a high quality like this are either brilliant storytellers, or just hard workers who sit down and make sure every “i” is dotted and every “t” is crossed. They don’t simply hurry along creating holes as they go in hopes of filling them in at some later point in time.

Sliding Doors—Starship Troopers—Sliding Doors—Starship Troopers. Decisions, decisions, decisions. Action—Romantic Comedy—Violence—Romance—Denise Roberts—Gwyneth Paltrow. Hmm, no contest. Well, only one thing to do. Get them both!

And so here I am. Sliding Doors was a great movie. And yes, it did stand above the crowd, although I do have to admit that I’m still trying to figure out who or what the crowd is or was. What I do know is that the movie was very funny and very intriguing. The “what if” was thoroughly enjoying and never did it get tiring or boring. The romance in the film was also very good. It wasn’t that cheesy romance that normally infects Sandra Bullock’s movies, but more calmer romance where thoughts are shared and expressed. Where love is found by just simply hanging out in each other’s company, sharing laughs and living life. I highly recommend to anyone to go check out Sliding Doors. Granted, Paltrow does indeed cry a little, but it’s forgivable. Don’t miss it!


Recommended:
Yes

Viewing Format: VHS
Video Occasion: Good Date Movie
Suitability For Children: Suitable for Children Age 13 and Older