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The moment Stanley Milton (Luke Wilson) saw Diana Evans (Denise Richards) he was immediately
attracted to her. It is only months later, with the help of his buddy Michael (Ben Affleck), that he gained enough courage to talk with her and invite her out. To make sure
that it would be a perfect first date, the two men plan the details. However unexpected things happen. For instance, while driving to their first activity of the evening, a
concert, Stanley bumps a man, Phil (Jay Lacopo), a vagabond and con-man. Extricating him from the car-front, they see him limp and bring him to a hospital. Although the
checkup shows nothing wrong, from then on Phil is reluctant to separate from the two, making him the odd man out, the third wheel. How is the date going to fare with this and
other disruptions? Will the dating pair be able to get to know each other?
The Third Wheel runs
like a short story. There is not much of a plot. What fills the almost two-hour screen time is the part the vagrant con-man plays, tagging along for the rest of the night.
This could have been his movie: he is The Third Wheel. Luke Wilson and Jay Lacopo are sufficiently adequate in their roles. However Denise Richards is not given room to
show the "smart, successful, gorgeous" woman that Diana Evans is supposed to be. Actually her role is limited.
The many interruptions and disruptions could have easily and understandably annoy the pair. On
the contrary, the incidents turn out to be moments of discovery about each other, what role Phil has played in their planned date gone haywire, and how they regard each other
at the end of the evening. Here is a man of patience who is willing to wait for an opportunity to get to meet a woman he likes. There is also the show of concern for someone
who could be possibly hurt, even to the extent of helping out further. Although there are no issues clearly questionable The Third Wheel deals with adult subject
matter, thus the CINEMA rating above.
(Date reviewed: July 19, 2002)
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