Marc Blucas

Six Californians start a club to discuss the works of Jane Austen, only to find their relationships, both old and new, begin to resemble 21st century versions of her novels. Kathy Baker is Bernadette, a strong older woman living life by her own rules, who organizes the club to help her friend, Sylvia (Brennemen) get over a heartbreak. Sylvia's lesbian daughter, Allegra (Maggie Grace) joins to support her mom, as does Sylvias friend, Jocelyn (Maria Bello), who brings along a young man she just met (Hugh Dancy), in hopes of playing matchmaker. A fragile, and strange, young married teacher played by Emily Blunt in a performance that still stands out in this very well-acted film, rounds out the group. As the group works its way through the Austen library, their own love lives parallel the classic writers storylines.

Vignettes about eight different couples at varying points in their relationships, each having conversations immediately after having sex. After Sex is a background to examine intimacy and vulnerability. Looks at the complexity of modern day relationships told through eight separate couples. Through dialogue and compromising situations, the film takes us from the beginning of a relationship to the aftermath of one, and examines every stage in between seeing humor within the drama, heartache and confusion of it all. —Anonymous

Donna Jensen (Gwyneth Paltrow) is from a small town of SliverSprings in Nevada. She wants to escape her miserable, unhappy life of living in a trailer with her alcoholic mother (Robyn Peterson), a former Las Vegas showgirl, and her abusive, alcoholic stepfather. However as she grows up, Donna is sill stuck in her small hometown. Her mother was already on her 4th husband Pete. Rodney (John Francis Daley) is Pete's son. Donna starts dating a high school quarterback named Tommy (Marc Blucas), who is working as a manager at a retail store. He uses his position to get Donna a job as a store clerk in the luggage department. After graduating high school, Donna struggles to make ends meet working as a clerk in a Big Lots store. After her boyfriend Tommy (Marc Blucas) leaves her on her birthday as he is getting transferred to Tuson and takes a different girl with him whom he thinks is more focused on her career, compared to Donna. Donna quits her job and is very close to becoming an alcoholic. Donna sees a TV interview with Sally Weston (Candice Bergen), a former flight attendant, who had written a memoir called My Life in the Sky. Sally is celebrated as the most famous flight attendant in the world. She narrates her story on TV, which is also very similar to Donna's. Donna starts by buying and reading Sally's book. Donna then becomes a flight attendant for a small, seedy, budget California commuter airline called Sierra. She works with Sherry (Kelly Preston), a senior attendant, and Christine (Christina Applegate). The airline has just 5 planes and flies gamblers and drunks to Fresno. Steve (Rob Lowe) is employed as a pilot for the airline. Donna has never flown before and has a panic attack on her first flight, embarrassing even the passengers. Donna had never been on a plane before and did not know what to expect. She loses it completely when the plane retracts its wheels and believes that the plane will crash when it first makes a turn. After the flight is over Steve helps Donna with her confidence and assures her that she is not going to get fired. Donna soon gets the hang of the job. She is hard working and becomes a good air hostess. Donna meets Ted (Mark Ruffalo) while working at Seirra. He works as the lake patrol officer and is a friend of Sherry's boyfriend. Christine practically throws herself at Ted, but he is attracted to Donna as they both want to travel and see the world. One day a Royalty Airlines plane refuels at Sierra's airport and Donna gets to see how the other side lives. Royalty Airlines air hostesses are impeccably dressed, carry only the most sophisticated handbags and talk about where they spent time in the whole world. Sherry says that back in time she worked for PanAm where the uniforms were made from natural fiber. She needed a job close to home and hence chose Sierra. Donna notices a job fair ad for Royalty Airlines in the papers and decides that her time has come. Donna applies to Royalty Airlines. She is interviewed by John Witney (Mike Myers). Sherry and Christine also apply. While Christine and Donna get in, Sherry does not as she comments on John's lazy eye and is rejected and remains with Sierra Airlines. Donna puts her heart and soul into training, and, after meeting Sally Weston, is determined to be assigned to the top route, "Paris, First Class, International". Sally is assigned to the group as a mentor. Sally likes Donna and senses she is special and wants her to focus on her career. Even then one day Donna finds that Christine stole guest soaps from Sally's house when they were invited there for dinner. After training, Donna is shocked and disappointed to be assigned to a commuter route in Cleveland while Christine, who struggled during the training, inexplicably has been assigned the high-priority New York City route. John says nothing can be done, and that Donna will be re-eligible to apply after 1 year. John refuses to get Sally involved as he also didn't get his dream of becoming a flight attendant due to his lazy eye. Although Donna is unhappy being in Cleveland, she begins a relationship with Ted (Mark Ruffalo). Donna can't shake the feeling that something was not right with her test. Yet, she continues to work her way up in the airline. She meets Ted's family over Christmas. A few months later, Donna runs into Christine in Cleveland. Donna is shocked when Christine happens to empty her handbag and it has stolen Royalty Air items. Even the smallest theft is strictly prohibited by Royalty Airlines and could result in termination. Donna is suspicious that there was some error in her route assignment. With Weston's help, Donna discovers that Christine had switched their test I.D. numbers (Christine had the habit of drawing hearts over her I's) as they handed in their final exams to the instructor She changed her test ID from 1041 to 1047 and Vice Versa for Donna. Weston then has airline security spy on Christine's flight to see if she engages in any theft. She also makes the connection that Christine stole the guest soaps from her bathroom that day. Christine is caught and fired. Donna re-takes the exam, achieving a perfect score. She is then assigned to a Paris, First Class, International route, though it means breaking off her relationship with Ted. Ted is devastated that Donna is leaving him so suddenly. Before her first flight Christine confronts Donna and says that she knows Donna ratted her out to Royalty airlines. Donna confronts back saying she knows that Christine switched the tests and Christine says that someone had to put Donna in her place. Christine attacks Donna and is carried away by security. Donna soon realizes that she is lonely and unhappy and misses Ted when she is alone in Paris on Christmas. With Weston's encouragement, she returns to Cleveland (she knows that Ted spends Christmas with his family every year) and the two reconcile. The film ends with Donna wishing her passengers well as they land in Cleveland, though she is now a pilot.

Ryan Dunne (Freddie Prinze Jr.) is a local baseball player who dreams of playing in the Major Leagues. He helps his dad with his landscaping business and takes care of Veteran's Field, where his team, the Chatham A's play. Ryan is poor. Over the summer, the town is full of hopeful youngsters who want to play in the local Cape league and show off their talent to the big-league scouts. This includes kids like Billy Brubaker (Matthew Lillard), Mickey Dominguez (Wilmer Valderrama), Miles Dalrymple (Marc Blucas) & others. Ryan, in his dedication to making the pros, has sworn off girls and drinking to avoid distractions. Chatham A is coached by Coach John Schiffner (Brian Dennehy), who is a tough cookie and doesn't appreciate Ryan taking the league lightly (Ryan shows up to training late and often in thongs as a result of his previous late-night debauchery). This changes when Ryan sees Tenley Parrish (Jessica Biel), as he and his father Sean (Fred Ward) are mowing the Parrish family's lawn. Tenley is a rich girl whose family summers at cape cod. Tenley is smoking hot. Tenley is interested in Ryan. Tenley's sister Katie Parrish (Zena Grey) is a huge fan of the Chatham A's and a fan of Ryan. Mickey has a unique problem that her Lusty House Mother (Beverly D'Angelo) has the hots for him. Billy tells Mickey to go for her. Mike Dunne (Jason Gedrick) is Ryan's brother and is a bartender at a local watering hole. Mike is a failed ball player and is always tough on Ryan. Mike fells Ryan is very talented but is wasting his life away. Mike thinks Ryan is acting like a victim ever since their mom died, and that Ryan feels that the world owes him something. The next day, the A's have their first game of the season where rival Van Leemer (Corey Pearson) shines pitching a shut-out, while Ryan is told to walk the stands for donations. That evening Ryan and Tenley have their first kiss. The next night Ryan is pitching in his first game of the season. The game goes well for the A's until the last innings when Ryan gives up a grand slam, allowing the other team to win the game. Billy continues to struggle for the first hit of his season, while Miles is hitting home runs at will. Ryan returns home to find his dad drunk and upset about the loss. Billy wants to quit and leave, but Ryan convinces him to stay by hooking him up with the town slut Dede Mulligan (Brittany Murphy). Later, Ryan visits Tenley, where he confides about his rocky relationship with his father and concerns about failing as a baseball player. The next night, Ryan and Tenley take an evening swim in her pool as it's raining, falling in love with each other, before being chased off by her dad Rand (Bruce Davison). Ryan is distracted by Tenley and feels a lot of pressure from scouts, family, the Parrish family, and friends. He is told that he's getting the start for an upcoming big game. That night, Mike has a tough chat with Ryan and Ryan feels very low. He goes to meet Tenley and finds that her ex-boyfriend has come to meet her, and this is guy whom her father favors as the right match for Tenley. For Ryan this is a devastating blow as he feels he is just a summer fling for Tenley. The next night, Ryan starts out well, but comes apart later. Billy scores his first runs. The loss causes Ryan to be demoted to the bullpen in a relief position. Despite the bad outing, Hugh Alexander (John C. McGinley), a scout for the Philadelphia Phillies in attendance, shows interest in Ryan's talent. Ryan's friends tell him not to pity himself and continue believing in himself. Rand calls Ryan and tells him that if he doesn't leave Tenley alone, he and all his rich friends will pull away their businesses from Ryan's dad. Rand wanted Tenley to take a job with her uncle in SFO, even though she wanted to study architecture. Ryan tells Tenley to take the job in SFO, even thought that would mean that the both of them will never be together. When Sean finds out about Rand's threat, he quits Rand's business and presents him with a final bill. Eric Van Leemer and Dale Robin (Christian Kane) are kicked off the team not only for their bad behavior, but also for accidentally burning down a press box, and since Ryan has the freshest arm and the most rest, he is designated to start the final game. Tenley tells Ryan that she's leaving for San Francisco for a job opportunity the following night, which is the night of the final game. She tells him to let himself be great, before tearfully hugging him goodbye. Mike (finally sheds his hostility for once) also gives Ryan a pep talks before the game. Mike tells Ryan not to throw his fast ball at every instance and bring variations. Inspired by Tenley's words of encouragement, Ryan pitches one of the best performances ever seen in the Cape League, dominating the game with a no-hitter, with his friends, dad and brother, and several major league scouts, including Alexander, in attendance. Late in the game, he notices that Tenley has stopped by on her way to the airport to watch him. He proceeds to strike out the current batter, marking his eleventh strike-out of the game, and looks back to see that Tenley is gone. Ryan rushes to the airport where he catches Tenley before she boards her plane. They both profess their love for each other, and she agrees to forgo her job in San Francisco and stay. Ryan's dad and brother soon arrive with the scout Alexander, to tell him that his team won the game with a combined no-hitter. Alexander offers Ryan a contract with the Phillies that will start him out at their minor league affiliate, which he happily accepts. Later, everyone is gathered to watch Ryan in his Major League debut as a relief pitcher for the Phillies. He delivers his first pitch to Ken Griffey Jr., who launches it into the stands for a home run.