State and Main

In brief: A movie production descends on a small town. Comedic chaos ensues.

I don't even know where to start. How about telling you who is in the best ensemble comedy ever? We've got Philip Seymour Hoffman, William H. Macy, Julia Stiles, Sarah Jessica Parker, and Alec Baldwin, among others. And they all play off each other brilliantly. I tell you truly though, you will quickly discover how much more amusing the lives and ideas of the town's folk are compared to the antics of the actors. They provide all the best material.

Despite the fact that the plot and its events are a source of amusement, keep your ears open for the one-liners. I know, you might associate one-liners with things that aren't really funny to begin with, but you would be mistaken. In this case, they guarantee that you will never stop laughing.

David Mamet, the writer and director, is sometimes associated with some of his darker films such as Hannibal or Ronin, but I assure you that he does comedy just as well. In fact, he may do it even better. His timing is perfection itself. As for his writing, you will love the solutions he comes up with for such problems as pushing through a stain glass window and the fallout of a traffic accident.

Last little note: keep your eye on the town doctor. He is quite possibly the greatest source of amusement in the whole film if you are quick enough to catch it.