Sam(MatthewBroderick)isthereasonablemaninacrazyurbanworld,themanofthoughtfulnessandrefinedtasteinalandscapeofLeroyNeimanpaintingsandbeercommercials.Theguywouldsoonercookforanhouroverahotstovethansay`supersizeit.Bydayhesastoreclerkinanupscalegourmeteatery,andthesescenesraiseasmile,especiallyforanyonewhosvisitedtheactualchaininNewYorkCity--theportrayalisntfarofffromthereality.OurmanisbesiegedbyhoardsofcustomerswhowanttheirimportedFrenchcheesecuttoimpossiblyexactstandards.Hiseffortstoremainoutwardlypolite(whileyouknowhedliketotakethecleavertotherelentlessclientele)areprettyfunny,andwillwarmtheheartsofclerkseverywhere.Ingeneral,Broderickisingoodformandprovidesthemoviewithmostofwhateverlightnessitpossesses.Sciorraslovelorndentalhygienist,Ellen,isfineenough,too,andherunknowinginteractionwithourcheese-slicingheroshowssomehopefulchemistry,andyoumaybegintofeelyouwanttoseethesetwogettogether.Oneofthemaincompetitorsforourladysaffections,astockbroker(KevinAnderson),isplayedascaricature:hesthebeerswillingfrat-boywhoseideaofafter-sexsensitivityisflippingonthefootballgame.Heskindoffunnyattimes,butthemoviemightbestrongerifhewaswrittenoractedforustolikehimmore,insteadofhavingusmerelyrecognizehimastheflat-out`wrongguyincomparisontoBroderickssensitiveman.ThinkofJohnCandyinSplash,takingacigaretteandbeercantotheracquetballgameweknowhislifestyleisnottheoneourheroshouldemulate,butwecanthelpbutbecharmedbythelikeablegoon.Whereasthischaracterismerelyagoon,andprettyunlikableallaround.Whileitsaniceenoughlightmovieforthefirsthalf,formethestorywassomewhatderailedbyitsunbelievable(Hollywood)presentationofsexandadultery.(SPOILERAHEAD,skiptonextparagraph.)WhenEllenreturnshomeafteraneveningsmisadventures,sheisnaturallyfacedwiththequestioninghusband(MichaelMantell).Quicklyadmittingherownindiscretion,shethenimmediatelyturnsthesituationaround,demandingtoknowwhytheguyhadgoneaheadandboughtahousewithoutdiscussingit.Granted,itsavalidissue,andgranted,manypeopleusethiscounteringmaneuverinarguments.Whatsunbelievableiswhathappensnext:theguystartsrespondingtoherquestion,addressingthehouse-issueinaquiet,thoughtfulmanner.WHOA.Youdbehardpressedtofindamarriedpersonintheworldwho,whenfacedwithhis/herpartnerstotallyunexpectedadultery,wouldbereadytoaddressanythingsocalmly.Theguywouldsurelybebouncingoffthewalls,orelsecrushedintosilenceandtears-butsee,thenwemightactuallyfeelforthepoorschnook,andwedseeSciorrascharacterinapoorlight.Andsincethatparticularaudiencereactiondoesntservetheromanticcomedy,thestorytriestosneakaroundit.Youmaystarttofeelthat,likethehusband,yourebeingtaken.Furtherdissatisfactionisjustaroundthecornerintheending.Werealizethisiswheremisunderstandingswillgetsortedout,andourcouplewillfinallyseeaclearpathtooneanother.Wewantthesatisfactionofrootingforthem.Butitsmarredbyanotherunbelievablecharacterreaction,followedbyanabruptconclusionthatfeelsrushedandforced,tooeasyandunearned.Youmayfeelasthoughthemoviescheatingonyouagain...