Richard Schickel

Maid in Manhattan is not so much a movie as a collection of career moves. J. Lo needs a comedy hit to support her principal activity, adorning magazine covers. Fiennes needs to warm his austere British image if he hopes to become a true international star.

Will the movie end in an orgy of sentiment? Why do we bother to ask?

It's a faux epic -- swell costumes, historically authentic settings, a certain amount of bustle and skulking, but very little dramatically gripping activity.

It's as if everyone was just a little too much in tasteful awe of its subject, who is played rather stolidly by Nick Nolte.

It's a modest little fantasy. But it's also well made, unpretentious and refreshing.

We're left with our stifled laughter and a very long movie.

Given that this holiday film season has come up more than a little short on love and laughter, one can easily forgive Kate & Leopold the slightly excessive lengths and complications to which it goes in search of those rare commodities.

The net result of this mighty effort is perhaps predictable: near total inconsequence.

We forgive Bridget the movie its obvious flaws because of its equally inescapable charm.

You'll have to seek it out in its limited release, but no current movie is more worth the effort.

Half comedy, half action piece, the movie runs sputteringly on the not inconsiderable charm of its stars. But basically it is languid, indeterminate and uninvolving.

It is somewhat repetitive, but it is also wonderfully acted, especially by Barrymore.