Miles (Giamatti), a failed novelist, and Jack (Church), a former soap star, are two middle-aged friends who take a one-week road trip through the wine country of California to celebrate Jack's upcoming wedding. They plan to play golf, sample wine and drink themselves "sideways", but Jack also has the urge to have one last fling before tying the knot. He meets Stephanie (Oh), who responds to his flirtations, though he neglects to advise her that he is betrothed. Miles hopes to hit it off with Stephanie's friend, Maya (Madsen), but has some self-esteem issues from an earlier failed marriage. Alexander Payne's previous films, Election and About Schmidt, were pointed observations of American society. In this one he explores friendships, love, and sex, and infuses the film with wit and poignancy. The funny, incisive screenplay was based on the novel by Rex Pickett. The performances from the foursome are excellent, particularly Giamatti (whose mannerisms are completely natural) and Madsen (who demonstrates that she is capable of subtle character acting despite her blondeness). This is a film for oenophilists and connoisseurs of fine cinema, to be savoured with a mature pinot noir!

Dan (Law) is an obituary writer. Anna (Roberts) is a photographer. Larry (Owen) is a dermatologist. Alice (Portman) is a stripper. Over the course of a number of years, from walks in the park to internet chatrooms, from a gallery opening to a lapdance club, we see the four of them as they try and, mostly, fail to date, mate and relate to one another.

Despite what the cast might lead you to believe, this is anything but a gentle romantic comedy. Yes, this is a story about love, and there are jokes in it, but it's about the darker side of love and what happens when it goes wrong. So, probably not the perfect date movie - unless you want to dump your date and need a few tips. But for those of you looking for a profane, deeply cynical look at modern relationships, this is likely to float your boat.