I should have listened to the critics. I couldn't help it, though. The movie just looked so fun in the commercials. Yes, Kate Hudson is annoying, but I love Naomi Watts, Bebe Neuwirth, Stockard Channing, Matt Modine, etc. The movie is very watchable--the acting's good, and each scene has a good flow to it. The transitions between scenes can be a little spotty, but that's okay. The real problem comes with the plot--there is none. Understand, what I (and my colleagues) tell my students is there being a difference between plot and a series of events. A series of events do not have to have a relation to one another. A plot is an intricate weaving of cause and effect. There are a lot of gaps in motivation and character development that, perhaps, the book might reveal? A brainless, confusing romp, but a romp, nevertheless. If you're in the mood for a romp (with a good soundtrack, mind you), and you don't care if a stupid flying bag randomly intrudes on an otherwise normal narrative, see this movie.
--A.Y.