Well intentioned character study collapses under the weight of its own self-importance. Kinda like a lighter version of “The Hours” in this regard. Not one of the characters develops or goes through any change, with the possible exception of the actress, who learns to accept her vanity. It’s funny, because the shallow actress is the only even slightly likable character in this whole story. Ann was truly repulsed by this film — a collection of horrible, selfish people, she called it. And the Jake Gyllenhaal subplut is just shoddily developed. Still, anything with Catherine Keener in it can’t be that bad. Is there anyone who plays a bitch better than her? I much preferred Holofcener’s “Walking and Talking.”