I came across this movie on Netflix and gave it a try. I am a huge Gwyneth Paltrow fan as well as a huge fan of 90s movies. I must say that I love the twist of the two different universes based on what she decided to do that morning. Very intriguing plot that makes you think about every move that you make.The film starts off strong with a hardworking female protagonist who we know is being cheated on by her mooching boyfriend. I would not recommend watching this movie if you are prone to paranoia or anxiety--after watching this you may fear that your significant other is cheating on you for days, especially if you are already having any grounded/ungrounded suspicions. I wanted to jump through the TV and knock this cheating liar out of her life myself. But luckily she is smart and does that in the end herself.But how smart is she really? My main beef with this movie and the main reason I am not giving it a higher score is because in BOTH universes she winds up accidentally pregnant? For real? So are we to believe in both scenarios she just doesn't use birth control? Or that her birth control was faulty in both scenarios? And talk about grim...in both scenarios she nearly loses her life? I feel like the movie was on a better track before it took that drastic turn.Still, this movie is full of emotion, laughs and a seriously charming Irish guy who she thankfully winds up with in the end. I was glad to see their happy ending but it really made me wonder if this plot needed to be so convoluted and nearly get her killed in order for them to end up together.Maybe it's the type of movie you need to watch more than once to really get, but I won't be doing that, once was enough for me.

Helen (Gwyneth Paltrow) gets fired from her PR job for taking home all the booze. As she tries to go home, she misses the subway train... then in another storyline, she catches the subway train. The difference leads to two different stories. In one, she goes to the hospital after a purse snatching. She doesn't catch her boyfriend cheating, and her miserable life continues. In the other, she meets talkative James (John Hannah) on the train and finds her boyfriend Gerry (John Lynch) cheating with Lydia (Jeanne Tripplehorn).Written and directed by Peter Howitt, this movie is one gimmick but I'm not sure there is much more than that. His style is competent if somewhat uninspired. Gwyneth is talking with a British accent. John Lynch has no screen presence and his character has the personality of a slug. The stories lack any excitement. John Hannah is quite charming, but the happy storyline doesn't really have enough drama. In the end, I don't care about either road traveled. It's a missed opportunity to write something amazing. It needs somebody with that sensibility like a Charlie Kaufman.

The film depicts quite well how are lives are shaped by the small small actions we take in our daily routine. The two parallel lives of the leading lady is very well shown. Gwyneth Paltrow is brilliant in this film one of those rare actresses who is not only beautiful but can act as well, equally at ease portraying sexy character or the pretty girl next door!! Her best friend is good too as for John Lych he really makes you pity his character and John Hannah though annoys you a bit with his very thick accent but was good overall though not perfect casting in his case.All in all this is indeed a Rom-Com with a difference, highly recommended to while away a slow night!

The central plot device notwithstanding, "Sliding Doors" is a formulaic romantic comedy, with Paltrow a seemingly reluctant constant in the middle of the formula. (Peter Howitt, writer and director, does deserve credit for not trying to explain how the two wormholes through the romantic cosmos diverge--rather just presenting the intertwined versions of Helen's life). Jeanne Tripplehorn and John Lynch are each a lot of fun to watch. Lynch maintains a wonderfully dazed and confused demeanor in the face of womankind on the warpath, and Tripplehorn trods said warpath with great brio. Their lines aren't original, but they get into the spirit. The climax of the movie (no spoilers here) seems way contrived, and it disturbs whatever flow has been developed: writer-running-out-of-ideas material. Douglas McFerran, as Gerry's de rigueur funny mate, does a workmanlike job in magnifying Gerry's angst.