Sliding Doors [DVD] - Peter Howitt

Nice concept shaky execution--that about sums up the mixed blessings of British actor Peter Howitt's intelligent but forgivably flawed debut as a writer-director. It's got more emotional depth than most frothy romantic comedies and its central idea--the parallel tracking of two possible destinies for a young London professional played by Gwyneth Paltrow--is full of involving possibilities. It's essentially a what-if scenario with Helen (Paltrow) at the centre of two slightly but significantly different romantic trajectories one involving her two-timing boyfriend (John Lynch)and the other with an amiable chap (John Hannah) who represents a happier outcome. That's the film's basic problem however: the two scenarios are so romantically unbalanced (one guy's a total cad the other charmingly sincere) that Helen inadvertently comes off looking foolish and needlessly confused. Still this remains a pleasant experiment and Howitt's dialogue is witty enough to keep things entertaining. It's also a treat for Paltrow fans not only does the svelte actress handle a British accent without embarrassing herself but she gets to play two subtle variations of the same character sporting different wardrobes and hairstyles in a role that plays into her glamorous off-screen persona. I--Jeff Shannon/I