2002, 1 hr 35 min., Rated R for sexuality, some language and drug content.�Dir: Miguel Arteta. Cast: Jennifer Aniston (Justine Last), Jake Gyllenhaal (Holden Worther), John C. Reilly (Phil Last), Tim Blake Nelson (Bubba), John Carroll Lynch (Jack Field, Store Manager), Zooey Deschanel (Cheryl), Deborah Rush (Gwen Jackson).

The Good Girl should rightly be considered a 'chick flick,' if only because of how it treats the subject. In such movies, any men who stray from an ethical path or cheat on their wife are (rightly) castigated as cads. However, a women in such a movie who is adulterous is someone we're supposed to be sympathetic with, since she's feeling "trapped."

Jennifer Aniston is so pleasant to look at (of course), but also listen to and actually care to learn about. What are her motivations? Why can't she seem to be happier? What has she tried? Unfortunately, none of that is brought up. But Aniston is still almost worth the price of admission.

PLOT: Aniston is a makeup counter worker at Retail Rodeo, which is like a smaller K-Mart. She's not happy in her marriage to John C. Reilly, who spends his time away from painting houses hanging out with buddy Bubba (Tim Blake Nelson). They drink, get stoned and watch TV. Aniston wants a baby, and pretty much anything else not associated with her boring existence. A "different wind" blows in the form of 22-year-old Holden (Jake Gyllenhaal), an aspiring writer who manages to do what millions of guys wish they could, woo Aniston.

As the resident idiot (or "cuckold") males in this chick flick, The Good Girl features indie movie kings, John C. Reilly and Tim Blake Nelson, plus the first I've seen of Gyllenhaal (I never saw October Sky, where he made a name for himself). But what I've seen from the Moonlight Mile trailer he'll be around a lot the next few years. Maybe after a dozen films I'll remember how to spell his name. No, not "Jake" you smart aleck.

Aniston is fantastic, but perhaps not fit for this role. Her character is too pretty and smart for the people around her. Except for Aniston, I wouldn't want to hang out with any of the characters, which is never a good sign. And they're all in major funks with an unhealthy distaste for life, which makes it harder to bear. There are too many dumb decisions made, and for people who claim to look for fate, they don't recognize obvious hints along the way of which way to turn until it's too late, or almost too late. Good acting, bad girl.