Maid in Manhattan
A woman dressed in a maids uniform is sitting with a city pictured behind her, she is looking up smiling. Above her against the clouds is a washed out blue image of her dressed elegantly and a man in suit smiling from over her shoulder.
Theatrical release poster
Directed byWayne Wang
Screenplay byKevin Wade
Story byEdmond Dantès
Produced byElaine Goldsmith-Thomas
Paul Schiff
Deborah Schindler
StarringJennifer Lopez
Ralph Fiennes
Natasha Richardson
Stanley Tucci
Bob Hoskins
CinematographyKarl Walter Lindenlaub
Edited byCraig McKay
Music byAlan Silvestri
Production
companies
Distributed bySony Pictures Releasing
Release date
  • December 13, 2002 (2002-12-13)
Running time
105 minutes
CountryUnited States
LanguageEnglish
Budget$55 million[1]
Box office$154.9 million[1]

Maid in Manhattan is a 2002 American romantic comedy film directed by Wayne Wang and based on a story by John Hughes, who is credited using a pseudonym. It stars Jennifer Lopez, Ralph Fiennes, and Natasha Richardson. In the film, a hotel maid and a high-profile politician fall in love. The film was released on December 13, 2002, by Columbia Pictures and was a box office success, grossing $154 million against its $55 million budget, while receiving mixed reviews.

Plot

Marisa Ventura, a single mother raising her 10-year-old son Ty, works as a maid at the Beresford Hotel in the heart of Manhattan. When not in school, Ty spends time with Marisa's fellow hotel workers, who think she can be promoted to management.

While Marisa and her co-worker Stephanie are cleaning the room of socialite Caroline Lane, Stephanie convinces Marisa to try on a Dolce & Gabbana coat. Lane had previously asked for it to be returned to the store, and Stephanie argues that it "technically" does not belong to anyone at the moment. Elsewhere in the hotel, Ty befriends hotel guest and senatorial candidate Christopher "Chris" Marshall, whom he learns has an interest in Richard Nixon, the subject of his school presentation.

Ty wants to go with Chris to walk his dog and the pair go to Caroline's room to ask Marisa for permission. Chris meets Marisa, who is wearing the designer coat, and is instantly smitten with her. He assumes that she is Caroline. The trio spend some time together at the park. Though Marisa and Chris are attracted to each other, she is terrified that management will find out about the ruse and makes it a point to avoid him afterwards.

Chris asks the hotel's head butler, Lionel Bloch, to invite "Caroline Lane" to lunch, but is confused when the real Caroline shows up instead of Marisa. Marisa was present when she received the invitation and even gives Caroline advice on what to wear for their "lunch à deux". When the real Caroline shows up, Chris asks his assistant Jerry Siegal to find "the other Caroline Lane", promising that he will attend an important dinner and wishes her to go with him. Jerry asks Lionel to find her.

Lionel, who has figured out that Marisa is the woman Chris has been looking for, tells her to go to the dinner and end the affair swiftly if she wants a future in hotel management. Stephanie and the hotel staff assist her in preparing for the evening by styling her hair and loaning her an expensive dress and spectacular necklace.

Marisa is unable to end the affair, and she spends the night in Chris' hotel room. The next morning, Marisa is spotted by the real Caroline and her friend leaving his room. Caroline blurts out the truth to the hotel management and Marisa is fired in front of Chris in Lane's hotel suite. Both Marisa and Chris spend time apart with him still thinking about her. Marisa is also hounded by the media and her disapproving mother Veronica.

Some time later, Marisa secures another job as a maid at another hotel. Chris is giving a news conference at the same hotel. Ty attends it and asks Chris whether people should be forgiven if they make mistakes, referencing former President of the United States Richard Nixon. Ty leads him to the staff room where Marisa is having her break. Chris and Marisa are reunited, and the film ends with images of publications showing that Chris has been elected, he and Marisa are still together after a year, and Marisa and her maid friends have been promoted to management.

Cast

Production

The film was originally titled The Chambermaid, and then Uptown Girl.[3][4][5] It was described as a Cinderella-type story.[6] John Hughes was initially announced as the film's director, with Hilary Swank set to star as the lead. Variety confirmed in July 2001 that Jennifer Lopez was in negotiations to star in The Chambermaid, with Hughes no longer directing the project. Swank was no longer involved in the film.[7] Ralph Fiennes signed on to star in the film in February 2002.[8] Natasha Richardson joined the cast in April 2002.[9] The film's title was confirmed as Maid in Manhattan in August 2002.[10] Describing the character of Marisa, Lopez said: "She's Puerto Rican. She's from the Bronx. She has this young son and she's just trying to make ends meet. Every day she gets on the train to work. She goes to this big city of dreams and she wants more. She has aspirations in that way."[11] Fiennes' character was originally a wealthy British guest.[7]

Principal photography commenced in New York City in April, just months after the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001 in which the towers of the World Trade Center (visible in some unused pre-production footage) were destroyed, and concluded by June 2002.[9][12][13] Filming was carried out at both New York's Roosevelt Hotel and the Waldorf-Astoria Hotel.[14] Filming also took place in the Morris Heights section of the Bronx on E 175 Street between the Grand Concourse and on Jerome Avenue. John Hughes wrote the story, but was credited as Edmond Dantes. On the film's first day of production in The Bronx, paparazzi and spectators forced filming to stop, and police were called as a result of the pandemonium. Wayne Wang said "No one in the production was prepared for it."[14]

Soundtrack

The film features Paul Simon's "Me and Julio Down by the Schoolyard" in the opening credits, "Lovergirl" sung by Teena Marie, "Train on a Track" sung by Kelly Rowland, "Come Away with Me" and "Don't Know Why" sung by Norah Jones, Michael Jackson's "Fall Again" sung by Glenn Lewis, Paul Simon's "Kathy's Song" sung by Eva Cassidy and "I'm Coming Out" sung by Amerie.

Reception

Box office

Maid in Manhattan opened at 2,838 theaters in the United States, reaching number one at the box office in its opening weekend with $18.7 million, narrowly beating out Star Trek: Nemesis, by less than $200,000.[15] It earned a total of $94 million domestically, and $60.9 million in other countries, for a total gross of $154.8 million worldwide.[1]

Critical response

Maid in Manhattan received mixed reviews from film critics.[16] On the review aggregator Rotten Tomatoes, the film holds a rating of 38% based on 151 reviews, with an average rating of 5.10/10. The website's critics consensus reads: "Too blandly generic, Maid in Manhattan also suffers from a lack of chemistry between Lopez and Fiennes."[17] Metacritic assigned the film a weighted average score of 45 out of 100, based on 32 critics, indicating "mixed or average reviews".[18] Audiences polled by CinemaScore gave the film an average grade of "B+" on an A+ to F scale.[19]

Time magazine named it one of the top 10 worst chick flicks.[20] According to Anna Smith of the magazine Empire: "the film constantly falls back on its staple fairy-tale plotline, which is so resolutely traditional it should succeed in charming its target audience".[21] Nell Minow of Common Sense Media wrote positively, stating: "is as careful a combination of ingredients as it is possible to package [sic]. Everything is at the fairy tale level, which means we never dwell on troubling realities".[22] Paul Byrnes of the Sydney Morning Herald said: "The script is so lazy it snores, and Wayne Wang directs like he walked onto the wrong set – true enough, in its way."[23] Rich Cline of the webzine Film Threat reviewed Maid in Manhattan positively. Cline wrote: "When we catch ourselves sighing at the end, we get mad that we've fallen for this same old formula all over again. But mad in a nice way."[24] Roger Ebert wrote that the film is a "skillful, glossy, formula picture, given life by the appeal of its stars".[25]

Charles Passy of The Atlanta Journal-Constitution gave it a negative review, writing: "Instead of a fairy tale, we have a tale told without imagination. It's Cinderella gone stale."[17] Andrew Chase of Killer Movie Reviews, however, was more positive. Chase wrote: "Leave reality at the concession stand along with your $20 for popcorn, candy and a large drink".[17] Derek Adams of Time Out wrote: "Talented individuals labour over the contrivances in this lightweight romance, and if the result's fluff, at least it's painless."[26]

Lopez's casting in the film sparked some debate. Variety commented that "[m]aking the maid a Latina is certainly realistic but never quite avoids the suggestion that upward mobility is best achieved through marriage into Anglo society".[27] Fade to Black and White: Interracial Images in Popular Culture (2009) author Erica Chito Childs noted aspects of the film to expose the objective sides of a biracial relationship using the "symbolic roles of maid and politician".[28] Writer Betty Kaklamanidou praised Lopez's casting in the film which "proved that a Latin actress can move away from stereotypical supporting roles and effectively become the center of a romantic narrative".[29]

Accolades

Year Award Category Recipient(s) Result Ref
2003 35th NAACP Image Awards Outstanding Actress in a Motion Picture Jennifer Lopez Nominated [30]
Teen Choice Awards Choice Movie Actress – Comedy Nominated [31]
Choice Movie Liar Nominated
Choice Movie Lip lock Jennifer Lopez and Ralph Fiennes Nominated
23rd Golden Raspberry Awards Worst Actress Jennifer Lopez Nominated

Spin-off

ABC announced in August 2008 that it would be adapting the film to a television series, with Lopez producing.[32][33] Chad Hodge was hired as a script writer.[34] In 2009, Sony Pictures Television indicated the spin-off was a put pilot.[35]

Telenovela version

Telemundo and Sony Pictures Television were co-producing a telenovela based on the movie called Una Maid en Manhattan, starring Litzy and Eugenio Siller.[36] As of November 29, 2011, the telenovela was airing in Telemundo weeknights at 8pm/7pm central.[37][38]

References

  1. 1 2 3 "Maid in Manhattan". Box Office Mojo. Archived from the original on 2019-07-09. Retrieved 2020-02-19.
  2. ↑ "Maid in Manhattan (2002) - Full Cast & Crew - IMDb". IMDb. Archived from the original on 2015-05-27. Retrieved 2018-06-30.
  3. ↑ J Downey, Ryan (December 6, 2002). "'Manhattan' Gives J. Lo Newfound Respect For Maids". MTV News. Archived from the original on January 11, 2016. Retrieved August 6, 2015.
  4. ↑ Sager, Jeanne (June 21, 2002). "Local Stars In the Making". Sullivan County Democrat. Archived from the original on March 4, 2016. Retrieved August 6, 2015.
  5. ↑ M. Silverman, Stephen (June 25, 2002). "J.Lo Preps to Re-Team with Marc Anthony". People. Archived from the original on December 2, 2020. Retrieved March 11, 2021.
  6. ↑ Tauber, Michelle (June 24, 2002). "J.Lo Goes It Alone". People. Archived from the original on September 6, 2015. Retrieved August 6, 2015.
  7. 1 2 Fleming, Michael (July 26, 2001). "Lopez 'Maid' for slipper". Variety. Archived from the original on January 11, 2016. Retrieved August 6, 2015.
  8. ↑ "CLEANING LADY - TV Guide". Archived from the original on 2019-04-02. Retrieved 2020-02-19.
  9. 1 2 Lyons, Charles (April 28, 2002). "Richardson 'Maid' for pic". Variety. Archived from the original on January 11, 2016. Retrieved August 6, 2015.
  10. ↑ "Title of J.Lo pic 'Maid' to order". Variety. August 18, 2002. Archived from the original on January 11, 2016. Retrieved August 6, 2015.
  11. ↑ Lee, Alana (February 13, 2003). "Jennifer Lopez: Maid in Manhattan Interview". BBC Online. Archived from the original on September 25, 2015. Retrieved August 6, 2015.
  12. ↑ M. Silverman, Stephen (June 5, 2002). "J.Lo to Get Comic Book Treatment". People. Archived from the original on February 20, 2023. Retrieved August 6, 2015.
  13. ↑ Agger, Michael (11 December 2002). "J. Lo Cleans Up". slate.com. Archived from the original on 9 September 2021. Retrieved 9 September 2021.
  14. 1 2 Weiskind, Ron (December 12, 2002). "Jennifer Lopez skillfully rides tidal wave of publicity". Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. Archived from the original on January 11, 2016. Retrieved August 6, 2015.
  15. ↑ Maid in Manhattan Archived 2019-07-09 at the Wayback Machine @ BoxOfficeMojo.com
  16. ↑ M. Padilla, Yajaira (2009). "Domesticating Rosario: Conflicting Representations of the Latina Maid in U.S. Media". Arizona Journal of Hispanic Cultural Studies. 13: 41–59. doi:10.1353/hcs.0.0055. S2CID 143546485.
  17. 1 2 3 "Maid in Manhattan - Rotten Tomatoes". Rotten Tomatoes. Archived from the original on March 10, 2022. Retrieved March 8, 2022.
  18. ↑ "Maid in Manhattan Reviews". Metacritic. Fandom, Inc. Retrieved May 17, 2022.
  19. ↑ "Find CinemaScore" (Type "Maid" in the search box). CinemaScore. Archived from the original on May 28, 2019. Retrieved May 16, 2022.
  20. ↑ Suddath, Claire (May 26, 2010). "Top 10 Worst Chick Flicks - Maid in Manhattan". Time. Archived from the original on July 5, 2012. Retrieved March 28, 2012.
  21. ↑ Smith, Anna (April 23, 2003). "Empire's Maid in Manhattan Movie Review". Empire. Archived from the original on November 6, 2012. Retrieved November 8, 2012.
  22. ↑ Minow, Nell (2003-04-27). "Maid in Manhattan". Common Sense Media. Archived from the original on 2012-10-25. Retrieved November 8, 2012.
  23. ↑ Byrnes, Paul (March 6, 2003). "Maid in Manhattan". The Sydney Morning Herald. Archived from the original on November 14, 2012. Retrieved November 8, 2012.
  24. ↑ Cline, Rich (January 5, 2003). "Maid In Manhattan". Film Threat. Archived from the original on October 25, 2012. Retrieved November 8, 2012.
  25. ↑ Ebert, Roger (December 13, 2002). "Maid in Manhattan Movie Review (2002)". Roger Ebert. Archived from the original on September 24, 2015. Retrieved August 14, 2015.
  26. ↑ Adams, Derek (February 9, 2006). "Maid In Manhattan Review. Movie Reviews - Film - Time Out London". Time Out. Archived from the original on November 7, 2012. Retrieved November 8, 2012.
  27. ↑ Radner, Hilary (2010). Neo-Feminist Cinema: Girly Films, Chick Flicks, and Consumer Culture. Taylor & Francis. p. 84. ISBN 978-0203855218.
  28. ↑ Childs, Erica Chito (2009). Fade to Black and White: Interracial Images in Popular Culture. Rowman & Littlefield. p. 79. ISBN 978-0742565418.
  29. ↑ Kaklamanidou, Betty (2013). Genre, Gender and the Effects of Neoliberalism. Routledge. pp. 145–146. ISBN 978-0415632744.
  30. ↑ "Brown Sugar and Barbershop vie for black film awards". The Guardian. December 6, 2002. Archived from the original on January 11, 2016. Retrieved August 14, 2015.
  31. ↑ "2003 Teen Choice Awards Nominees". Billboard. June 18, 2003. Archived from the original on November 21, 2018. Retrieved August 5, 2015.
  32. ↑ Andreeva, Nellie (August 13, 2008). "ABC and Lopez team on "Maid" TV series". Reuters. Archived from the original on June 9, 2009. Retrieved July 2, 2017.
  33. ↑ Thorniley, Stuart (August 15, 2008). "The Jennifer Lopez Spin-Off Showcase". Cultural Wasteland. Archived from the original on October 16, 2008. Retrieved August 15, 2008.
  34. ↑ "Lopez Brings Maid to TV". IMDb. Archived from the original on 2016-03-04. Retrieved 2018-06-30.
  35. ↑ Askanas, Paula (January 7, 2009). "Lenn Adilman and Sharon Hall Promoted to Executive Vice President, Development at Sony Pictures Television". Sony Pictures. Archived from the original on July 5, 2009.
  36. ↑ Telemundo to Take 'Maid in Manhattan' to the Small Screen With 'Una Maid en Manhattan" Telenovela Archived 2013-01-03 at archive.today
  37. ↑ "THE LONG AWAITED PREMIERE OF "UNA MAID EN MANHATTAN" COMES TO TELEMUNDO ON TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 29 AT 8PM/7C". Archived from the original on 2012-01-11. Retrieved 2011-11-30.
  38. ↑ SEARS AND KMART, CHRYSLER AND L'ORÉAL PARIS, TO SPONSOR TELEMUNDO'S "UNA MAID EN MANHATTAN" NOVELA, PREMIERING TONIGHT, AT 8 P.M. ET/PT Archived 2012-06-16 at the Wayback Machine
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