An action-packed slog

Exactly the movie you think it is, but not the movie you want it to be.

Let me be very fair here, this is not the best movie in my opinion. But, this movie is fun, it has purpose and is very enjoyable to watch.

A terrific literary drama and character piece that shows how the process of creating art can be seen differently by those doing it and those looking at it from the outside.

Rich spoiled brat Ally Sheedy pisses her dad Tom Skerritt off so much he wishes she'd never been born. In steps fairy godmother Beverly D'Angelo to try and help by giving Ally the George Bailey treatment. In a world in which she never existed, she must now work for a living and learn valuable lessons about...I don't know, being poor or something. Anyway she comes out a better person in the end, even if it does feel light-switched. It's not a great movie but it is watchable. For a comedy it's not terribly funny and all it has to say philosophically could be written on the head of a pin. Still, the cast is excellent (far better than it deserves). Ally does a decent job but, if you weren't a fan of hers before, this is unlikely to make you one. Valerie Perrine and Dick Shawn are fun as the weirdo rich couple who hire her as their maid simply because "It's so difficult to find good white help these days." Beverly D'Angelo is great as the fairy godmother. There's a little bit of Cinderella referencing in this, particularly near the end, but I'm not sure why. The story doesn't really follow that path but I suppose if you reworked Cinderella to be about one of the wicked stepsisters it might work. Oh and prepare yourself for the worst scene in the movie, where Merry 'Gimme Shelter' Clayton wows all the rich white people with a dreadful '80s cover of "The Shoop Shoop Song."

Jesse Montgomery is a spoiled, bratty twenty something, living in her father's house in Beverly Hills with no direction or prospects. One night she ends up arrested for drug possession and drunk driving, and this pushes her father too far. He wishes that Jesse was never born, and Stella, a "fairy godmother" grants his wish. Jesse is left with nothing, and is forced to try to make it on her own. She eventually finds work as a maid, and learns a valuable lesson about what really counts in life, while also making new friends and finding love.Ally Sheedy and the supporting cast are what sell this movie. The story is nothing too original or special, but they make you care about what happens. The only nitpick I'd have is that Maria, one of the other maids in the movie, gets the raw end of the wishing in this movie. Everyone else ends with either their money back, or the prospects of making a ton of money. All Maria gets is a clean kitchen.

A very entertaining movie I've seen probably 10 times. Nothing great or Oscar worthy, just a movie you can sit back and enjoy without having to think. It has a relatively common, ordinary, predictable plot . . . spoiled rich girl, fairy god-mother teaching a lesson but with nice twist. When Ally Sheedy comes out of the pool with no clothes on there's a nice shot of her butt. And oh,what nice butt it is!!! Beverly DeAngelo is the God-mother and does a good job at that. Tom Skeritt is the father and Michael Ontkean turns into her romantic interest. Like I said, it's very predictable yet very enjoyable. But the highlight of the movie of course is the picture of Ally Sheedy's butt, it's beautiful.

Ally Sheedy works very hard to convince us she's a spoiled rich girl who takes everyone for granted. I felt it was all a con, and therefore couldn't wait for her character to make that transformation into a Better Person. Sheedy wasn't necessarily miscast as she was misdirected; she naturally projects a very savvy, efficient persona, and acting childish is beneath her. The second part of the film, with Sheedy working as a maid to wealthy neurotics Dick Shawn and Valerie Perrine (both terrific), is more successful, and the fantasy elements of the plot have had time to grow on us and are more acceptable. There are still some clumsy or awkward moments here, however for the first time Michael Ontkean is a CHARMING Prince Charming (not just a substitute for one) and the supporting cast is made up of wily and likable characters. "Maid to Order" leaves you smiling and that means it has done a good job, though it takes at least thirty minutes to kick into gear. *** from ****