Marisa Ventura is a hard-working, intelligent and determined single mother who dreams of a better life for herself and her son, Ty. As a housekeeper at Manhattana's first-class Beresford Hotel, Marisa has made a good life for herself and her ten-year-old son, even if they dona't have a lot of money. One Saturday morning Marisa brings Ty to the Beresford. She asks a co-worker to keep an eye on him for her while she and another maid, Stephanie, attend to their chores.

One of the hotel guests, a spoiled socialite, Caroline Lane, asks Marisa to return some designer clothes for her. After Caroline leaves, Stephanie coaxes Marisa into trying them on before taking them back to the store. In an uncharacteristically frivolous moment, Marisa slips into the chic, expensive outfits. Ty appears at the door with the handsome Christopher Marshall, an aspiring U.S. Senator and one of Manhattana's most eligible bachelors. Ty has come to ask Marisaa's permission to walk through Central Park with Christopher and his dog Rufus.

Christopher is immediately attracted to Marisa. Assuming she is a hotel guest, he asks her to join them. She is about to refuse, but Stephanie intervenes and accepts for her. Despite the obvious sparks between them, Marisa is reluctant to encourage Christopher, fearing shea'll lose all that shea's worked so hard to build. But he pursues her, even though it could compromise his political career. As romance, mistaken identity and front-page gossip collide, Marisa and Christopher learn that the bigger your dreams, the better the chance they might come true.

Directed by
Wayne Wang

Cast
Jennifer Lopez - Marisa Ventura
Ralph Fiennes - Christopher Marshall
Natasha Richardson - Caroline Lane
Stanley Tucci - Jerry Siegel
Tyler Posey - Ty Ventura
Frances Conroy - Paula Burns
Chris Eigeman - John Bextram
Amy Sedaris - Rachel Hoffberg
Marissa Matrone - Stephanie Kehoe
Priscilla Lopez - Veronica Ventura
Bob Hoskins - Lionel Bloch

Production Co.
Shoelace Productions
Hughes Entertainment

Produced by
Charles J. Newirth
Benny Medina
Deborah Schindler

Studio
Revolution Studios
Columbia TriStar Motion Picture Group

Writer
John Hughes
Kevin Wade

Music
Christoph Willibald Gluck