Wishful Thinking (1996)

Wishful Thinking Poster

A story told from three angles. Max meets Elizabeth; they live together, but when she talks of marriage, he balks. He becomes extremely jealous, probably without cause, and thinks she's taken up with a friend of his, Jack. Elizabeth, stung by Max's refusal to marry, catches Jack's eye, but the friendship seems innocent. Lena, who works with Max, likes him and realizes she can manipulate his jealousy and maybe engineer his split from Elizabeth. When she's sure Elizabeth is with a man, she calls Max at work, sending him home to confront the lovers. Then, Lena feels guilty and takes off for Max's apartment. What's really going on? Who's with Elizabeth?

Overview
"Wishful Thinking" is a 1996 independent American romantic comedy film directed by Adam Park, with movie script by Park and Elizabeth Nickson. The film stars Drew Barrymore, Jennifer Beals, Jon Stewart, and James LeGros. Its plot is a light-hearted expedition of relationships and personal development, diving into the web of romantic interests of 3 central characters: Max, Elizabeth, and Lena.

Plot and Character Introduction
Max (James Le Gros) is an unsuccessful actor having a hard time for a break. He is in a relationship with Elizabeth (Jennifer Beals), who handles an art gallery. As Max stays unemployed, Elizabeth takes the monetary responsibility for their shared apartment or condo in New York City. The third primary character, Lena (Drew Barrymore), is an unknowing individual in this triangle of love and confusion.

Narrative Style
"Wishful Thinking" follows a special story approach, providing the very same plot through the eyes of 3 different characters, providing the audience unique and illuminating perspectives on the occasions. The story starts with Max's point of view. In his variation, he paints himself as a committed sweetheart trying hard to avoid the temptation of his new co-actor, Lena.

Elizabeth's Perspective
After Max's story, the film retells the very same occasions from Elizabeth's viewpoint. It's exposed through her eyes that Max has actually been unfaithful, cementing her doubts about their relationship. Regardless of her own cheating with a fellow gallery worker, Elizabeth feels betrayed by Max's actions.

Lena's Perspective
The last part of the movie provides Lena's viewpoint. As a struggling musician battling her own battles, she gets caught up in Max and Elizabeth's mess. Being the other woman, Lena informs her version of the story where Max persuaded her that his relationship with Elizabeth was over.

Conclusion
The frequency of deceptiveness and misconception results in dreadful fights, triggering the relationship webs to decipher. Eventually, the characters deal with the effects of their actions. Elizabeth breaks up with Max, and Lena decides to focus on her music profession and move far from the poisonous scenario.

Themes and Reception
"Wishful Thinking" deals with themes of love, betrayal, ambition, and the complexity of relationships. The film was valued for its special narrative style and appealing storytelling. The efficiencies of Barrymore, Beals, and Le Gros were extensively admired. However, some critics felt the plot was over-complicated by the multiple perspectives, causing the story to lose clarity and function.

Last Thoughts
In summary, "Wishful Thinking" is a film that explores the complexities of romantic relationships from differing viewpoints, while also checking out the battles dealt with by the private characters. It utilizes the characters' individual point of views to supply insight into their inspirations, flaws, and redeeming qualities. Regardless of some criticism for narrative confusion, the efficiencies of the lead stars brought depth to the story, making it an engaging reflection of contemporary relationships.

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