Maid in Manhattan

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Maid in Manhattan ★★½ 2002 (PG-13)

Ralph Fiennes smiles! Okay, so it's not Greta Garbo laughs but the seriousminded Brit is not known for romantic comedies—in fact, this bit of fluff is his first. He's wealthy political scion Christopher Marshall, who's running for a New York Senate seat when he meets cute with Marisa (Lopez). She's the ambitious Latina single mom who's working as a maid in a posh NYC hotel but he mistakes her for a guest. Much angst (and tabloid gossip) when the truth is revealed until the prerequisite happy ending. Lopez is tenacious but her best scenes are with cutie newcomer Posey, who plays her 10-year-old son, and loudmouthed best friend Matrone. 105m/C VHS, DVD . US Jennifer Lopez, Ralph Fiennes, Natasha Richardson, Stanley Tucci, Tyler Garcia Posey, Marissa Matrone, Bob Hoskins, Frances Conroy, Christopher Eigeman, Priscilla Lopez, Amy Sedaris; D: Wayne Wang; W: Kevin Wade; C: Karl Walter Lindenlaub; M: Alan Silvestri.