Gere is a plastic surgeon who has just seen a patient die on his operation table. Cold and professional, he is obviously a transformed man by the end, even climbing mountains to help poor old Ecuadorians. Better, the patient's husband "pardons" him after they exchange a tear over the portrait of the dead lady.

Lane and Gere's affair is so singularly uninteresting that even the contrived ending is a relief. Think of it this way. For 10 minutes before it, we are read out letters which the two 40-plus lovers (Gere, who is always right on the wrong side of 30, has a 28-year-old doctor-son) write to each other. Suffice it to say, those letters don't leave any doubt about the nature of their "true love". This is that kind of film.

shalini.langer@expressindia.com