Comedies work best if the humor comes from character. This film is executed with such a delicate, kind hand that every character, no matter how self-centered or narrow-minded, seems to get what they want in the end, if generally not by a path they would have chosen. A rural Maine town is the setting for a Hollywood movie, and while there is some sound and fury of behind-the-scenes moviemaking, the smalltown pace wins over. And thus the performances were necessarily restrained, and nobody ends up standing out - a good thing in an ensemble piece. Mamet also sneaks in a number of conventional plot devices only to turn them on their heads. It all adds up to an enjoyable viewing experience - just don't start it with too much adrenaline in your system.