Do you like fairy tales? When you were a little girl, did you dream of Prince Charming coming and lifting you off your feet? Well, if you like fairy tales, Maid in Manhattan is the perfect movie for you. This film is the modern version of Cinderella with a “Hispanic Diva” Jennifer Lopez starring in the lead role as a “Puerto Rican” maid in a high class hotel who unwittingly finds herself being pursued by a charming, wealthy WHITE senatorial candidate.
In this film Jennifer Lopez portrays Marisa Ventura, a single mom to her bright son Ty and she also works as a maid in an expensive hotel in Manhattan. Ms. Ventura was assigned to look after the needs of a rich White woman “Caroline Lane” who will be occupying one of the most exclusive rooms in the hotel. While prepping the room Marisa and a fellow maid discover a $5,000 designer suit, which Marisa reluctantly tries on. Her 10 year old son, Ty meets the White senator on the elevator when he is about to take out his dog for a walk and the boy then asks if he can join him in walking the dog… and soon they are headed upstairs to get permission from Ms. Ventura to go walk the dog. The senator sees Marisa in the $5000 suit and thinks she’s a wealthy socialite; not realizing he already saw her cleaning his bathroom earlier in the movie in a maids uniform.
Marisa and Ty, both end up accompanying Mr. Christopher Marshall at the park. It is during this past time that Christopher begins to fall for Marisa. Marisa knowing that she is in the wrong of leading him on to believe that she is someone she is not deep down enjoyed the attention she received from Christopher. She also did not think much about continuing with this charades therefore she let him believe she was a wealthy woman.
But soon after, Marisa received bad news at her employment. The head management received a complaint and per video evidence showing that Marisa had taken/worn the $5,000 white designer suit and was fired. Besides being fired, Marisa then had to face her mother and hear her mother with an “I told you so” kind of sarcasm. Her mother would always be putting Marisa down and reminding her of “her place” and not to go off dreaming of becoming a manager or to even think that she may have a chance with Christopher. It took some time, but Marisa finally found the courage and stood up to her mother.
This movie has a traditional “fairy tale” ending such as Prince Charming finds his Cinderella and live happily ever after. Ty makes an exceptional impression on the senatorial which awakens his wrong doing on prejudging or on his point of view and goes after Marisa Ventura. Marisa and he find true love and their dreams which they had been working hard for come true. Marisa becomes a manager and Christopher Marshall becomes Senator.
This film touches some same issues such Anna in Real Women Have Curves. Marisa just like Anna is put down by her mother. Marisa is reminded of her social class by her mother and Anna is told that she will never be anybody because of her weight and way of thinking. Marisa and Anna’s dreams of succeeding come crashing down when they encounter their mothers, but they both stand up to their mothers and follow their dream. Marisa continues to become and succeeds in getting Manager position and Anna accepts the offer to attend Columbia University.
This film is funny, romantic, and brings up social class. This film motivates the viewer to stand up for one’s dream, beliefs, and/or goals. It teaches human value and self-worth and also promotes family unity, no matter how small the family may be. There were several scenes where few words were said but had profound meaning.Two of my favorite quotes are as follows:
“To serve people takes dignity and intelligence. But remember, they are only people with money. And although we serve them, we are not their servants.”
and the other is…
“What we do does not define who we are. What defines us is how well we rise after falling.” – Lionel
I tried watching this movie one day but I could not get into it for some reason. In the opening scenes, Marisa’s life is chaotic and unorganized. I also felt like Marisa was just another poorly created archetype of how society views Mexican and Latino women. Within 10 minutes of watching the film, I had to turn it off. However, after reading your post, it seems like a good movie. From the description, I can certainly see the adversities especially when trying to move out a social class. Marissa seems to want to escape her class that is why she tried the suit on and continued to lie to the senator about who she was. One’s social class is usually predetermined and moving up is always a hard task if not impossible. I think I might give this movie another chance. Thank you!
Another girls day dream of being swept off her feet. I think this film is targeting the minority like it such a privilege to date an Anglo. But on the other hand neat to see that it is a mixed race story line. I liked your comments at the end of your blog written by “Lionel” and part of that “rich” world is also handed down from old money. They were lucky enough to have fortunate parents or grandparents. Nice post! Thanks!
I always love a good Cinderella fairytale that is a made into a contemporary tale. I really enjoyed that you opened up your blog with that, because it drew me into your blog at the very start. I have never watched this film myself, but I do plan on watching it after your rave review. I just assumed it was a simple romantic comedy, and I did not realize that it had so many social issues and social class. Plus, I read the reviews on it, and the reviews were very mediocre. I guess that is just a lesson to not always listen to reviews. Its unfortunate that a $5,000.00 suit would make one’s identity, as it did in the movie. It seems like the male and female both made mistakes by judging and dishonesty. However, it seems like there was a good ending. I also liked your personal touch of adding your favorite quotes from the film, and I look forward to listening for the quotes when I watch the movie eventually.
I love this movie and the way it represented aim high, anything is possible. Being a single mom and working as a maid, but wanting to do more with your life, is the fairytale that every little girls dreams about. Growing up latino and not feeling like your good enough to be married to be somebody in society, proves that with determination you can overcome that sterotype and know that your just as good as the next guy. Great review.
This film definitely represents social class barriers and in a very fairy-tale way it breaks the barriers. After watching Real Women Have Curves, I feel like Marissa in Maid in Manhattan has a similar story. The story of your family expecting you to be in one place because that’s just how things are, but the female lead knowing they are capable of more. They both have a mother who helps break them down and keep them from achieving and in the end they both succeed further. One thing I did appreciate about this movie when I saw it was that they made her become successful on her own, not because of him.
This film kind of pisses me off. In the Latino culture there is an unsaid truth about who you choose to marry. You should always aim to marry the most light-skinned person. This film perpetuates that belief. This film does well to demonstrate the intersectionality of race, class, and gender. Not only was the protagonist in a lower class than her prince charming, she was also a part of a race of mostly servants. Also the fact that she needed a man to pull her up from the constraints of being a single mom sends the message that women need a man to be happy/successful. Garbage.
Hi Octavio,
I agree and it is sad that many people tell their children, whether son or daughter, to marry someone of light-skin. But this is an issue within eachothers culture, because when I’ve heard “try to marry someone light-skin or lighter than you” that is said even within one’s own culture, not necessary another race of social class. Also, I don’t agree that she needed a man to be successful. Marisa was portrayed as a single hard working mother and made a good point that she was all that her son needed, because Ty’s father was unreliable and irresponsible. Also, Marisa was already given the opportunity of becoming Manager and was being trained before Mr. Marshall, the senator candidate, became involved with Marisa. In the contrary, Mr. Marshall needed Marisa to show him how many people of “high society” are seen and open his eyes to change his ways.
Agree, this film has several similarities with Real Women Have Curves. It is sad how many times it is the mother that tries to hold their daughter back, instead of showing support to succeed and be stuck in the same situation. Parents should always want more and better for their children.
This film did great in depicting the strength that women have, as long as one has the motivation to do better and willing to work hard to achieve their dreams.
You will enjoy the movie. After taking this class and learning about the true meanings in screening films, we see films in a different perspective and start seeing the hidden meanings such as class, gender, and race. This film shows value to a person, not your status.
Very true…many are just fortunate to inherit the wealth of their parents and/or grandparents, while others break their backs to have food and shelter.
Give this film another chance. I believe the opening of the film of Marisa life being unorganized depicts a realistic view of the struggles a single mother may go through. But as the movie evolves, I think it also shows that even with all the struggles and her chaotic life, she is a strong woman working to better herself and her son’s living conditions.
I love fairly tales, but I can tell you from what my interactions and experiences that a white (or any race really) powerful man would never date his help , he might have sex with her but that is about how far that would go. Wealthy and powerful people would only marry another wealthy or powerful person. They are very mistrustful of people and they also think that anyone who is a maid or other service worker as beneath them. Enough of my ranting, your blog was well put together and the description of the movie was great. I hate the stereotype that the help is always a minority but like they said in class there is a grain of truth to it, but Hollywood exaggerates it.
I watched the movie as young girl and I really enjoyed it. A few months ago it was playing on TV and could not bear to watch more than 10 minutes (eventhough I love spicy Latina Jlo).Its disturbing to think that young girls are watching this thinking that in order for a Latina to become of importance they needs a rich, white, powerful man by their side. In the movie wedding planner Jlo falls in love with a rich white man also, but difference is that in that film she plays a smart career driven woman, and of course her character is not Latina, she’s of Italian descent. I do appreciate the fact they made her and the rest of the maids honest, hardworking people and a Jennifer Lopez looks were downplayed in the movie.
Although I enjoy watching this movie whenever I see that it’s on, I have to admit that we as women have been force fed several lies throughout our lives, most of these include that, we will be whisked off by Prince Charming, that he will have a lot of money, and that we don’t have to do anything except be pretty! This movie exemplifies all of those! I mean, why does Chris like Marisa anyways? Is it because she walks into the ball looking like a million bucks? Is it that she is only beautiful? Marisa’s character isn’t developed enough to answer why he loves her. I guess Chris just falls for her because, you guessed it, she’s pretty! Chris’s ex girlfriend Caroline is also pretty but doesn’t really do much of anything either. As a socialite she is seen shopping and residing in hotels in hopes she will run into Chris and they can get married (that seems to be her only goal)! And why does Marisa have to be a single mom? Wouldn’t the film have achieved its point with her being the lowly maid? In any case, the gender issues here are more blatantly obvious than the racial issues that seem to be lurking just underneath the surface.
Hello Zoraida and Andy,
Yes, the film is similar to Real Women Have Curves. I watched the movie before, and it was not that great. I understood the message as every girl dreams to marry a wealthy man and be happy forever. And I am like, I don’t. I believe we are all capable of building our fortune, and women do not need a man to be successful. But after reading your review, I may give it another try. After doing the reading for this class and watching other films that I would have never watched if it was not for this class, I will definitely watch the film. Why not? Great review on the film; you convinced me watch it again.
Is this movie about white male establishing dominance? He is the perfect guy but he is white. Is this the fairy tail about the white prince rescuing a poor Latina. Is this the only way she can rise above? I feel you gave a great review. You went into great detail about this movie, but I am a guy. This is the kind of movie I would watch with my wife. However i just think Jennifer Lopez is over rated. Most of her movie she only seen with white male costar and plays non Latina roles.
I don’t know I think I see this differently than others. I liked the movie I like the cast and I think the story is just about the poor and the wealthy. There are a lot of things wrong with the film. A single Spanish mom working in a hotel of that stature and her trying on a 5000 dollar dress should never happen! She wasn’t drunk wasn’t taking the dress to feed her son no I don’t think so. I think the Latino mom is viewed as very responsible especially in her position single and for survival.