it is finally so absorbing because it plays like a lyrical road odyssey that’s also a detective story.

It’s fine. It's literally the definition of a fine movie. You’ve seen it before, you know every beat and outcome before the characters even do. Only question is how much escapism you’re looking for.

Excellent and certainly provocative... If nothing else, the film is a real conversation starter.

This is a coming of age storyline that you've seen in one form or another for decades. It takes a truly unique voice to make yet another one worth watching.

Without going into much detail of the actual plot itself, let me just say that this was _the_ first movie I asked for as a special-occasion gift.I loved it better than I did the movie "Pretty Woman", the first time I saw that one.Every time after I rented this movie (before I got my own copy), I felt better than I'd felt before watching it, at the end of a bad work-day or whatever. _Every_ time. {{;'-)--Maybe partly because the two main love-interests' "financial-class" and preferred-job-types are so much closer to my own real-life ones. --And because I already like the town which was the main setting for this film, and because it seems to me there's a softer, much more "wistfully-shimmery" feeling to most of the lighting and color (as I said, I'm a graphic-artist myself) in this than there was "Pretty Woman"...at least in my opinion. --Not to mention I liked the overall type of humor in this a bit better. :)I'm sure there're some folks who might consider it a bit too "syrup-y". But I loved it.The only reason I didn't give it a slightly higher rating, incidentally, was (w/o giving away any surprises) simply that I felt there were a very few (but slight:) "loopholes" in the storyline, perhaps.In general, though, I thought it was wonderful.

Lightweight romance would have been better with stronger leads. Jami Gertz is OK, especially since the female role isn't particularly interesting. The biggest problem with this is Steve Guttenberg. He is a likable actor, but has next to no sex appeal, at least in this role. The alter-ego, "Lobo," comes off as completely ridiculous in his hands. Outside of him, though, the film is pretty good. This is one of Shelley Long's best performances--she's much better as a supporting player where her oddball and sometimes offputting personality doesn't have to carry the emotional baggage. Also excellent (as usual) is Beth Grant; she is one of my favorite current character actresses (make sure you see "Sordid Lives"). All in all, this is an OK Sunday afternoon movie, but I wouldn't go to too much trouble to see it.

While this was a cute and funny film, I was still very disappointed in it in very much the same way I was disappointed in the film version of "The Object of My Affection." The films concentrate on the emotions and issues of characters who were secondary to the problems of the main character.In the book, Emily Pear was the viewpoint character. It was her story and HER learning experience...not Gus's. You understood her a lot better and got to know her. I suppose that wouldn't make for a lot of action, but it was a delightful read...I wish the movie could have been as much fun...instead it was a ditzy little ramble. Too bad.

I won't recommend you run to the store and buy this, but it's better you rent it and see for yourself. It's not exactly the greatest movie in the world, particularly in the romance category, but it's entertaining and has a cute little love story surrounding the plot.