When this first donned the New Releases shelves at our local rental places, we mostly made fun of it... not cause we read the back and thought it sounded weak, but because of Josh Hartnett. But after reading the back, seeing that Matthew Lillard was in it, and having run out of viable rental options, Chris and I picked it up (even though the others didn't want to see it). To everyone's surprise, it rocked.
The film revolves around a young advertizing executive (Hartnett) living in the windy city of Chicago. He sees a woman in a cafe that he believes is his long-lost love and ends up missing his business flight. His conviction leads him into obsession, as he puts his life on hold to trail her.
Matthew Lillard plays his friend Luke, who owns and runs a successful shoe store and gives him a place to stay, a car to drive, and someone to help him stay sane. What is really amazing about Luke, is that his life gets all tangled up in the obsessiveness of Matthew's search for his long-lost love, Lisa. Their lies never really catch up with them, which is intriguing, but they end up giving themselves up (so their lies kinda catch up, just in an unusual and kind of realistic way).
The strangest thing about Wicker Park is the way in which you relate to it. Most people find themselves relating to the "crazy chick" because she is the most real person in the movie. She acts like any selfish human would have... she see's opportunities and takes them without regret. Actually, Luke is easy to relate to as well (lying about relationship stuff to his friends, being driven insane by his girlfriend, etc).
This movie literally had all of us on the edge of our seats. We learn about their past from flashbacks which interupt the film at the perfect times. The long-lost lovers pass each other without knowing it or just barely miss each other several times... and the music chosen for the film fits it so perfectly that it really does make the scene's more suspenseful. This movie really pulled us to the edge of our seats and into the storyline in a way no other romantic-mushy film ever has. Sure, there are a lot of coincidences, but with a bit of patience the movie falls together wonderfully.
I don't care who you are, or what you like, check out this movie. It is the most amazing Drama/Romance movie I have ever seen. Rent it, make your significant other watch it with ya, or just invite a bunch of friends over. The first time is the best. So make sure to enjoy the hell out of it. Do it.