Changes

==Plot summary==

==Plot summary==

Charlie uses [[noise-canceling headphones]] (with or without his [[iPod]]), an ugly Dylanesque appearance (poofy hair and an unstylish long jacket) to insulate himself from any contact or reminder of the upper middle-class world where he enjoyed life with his adoring family (a wife; daughters age 5, 7, and 9; and a small dog). He tools around Manhattan on a motorized scooter which he uses for quick getaways from unpleasant encounters. <ref>The scooter itself is just powerful enough to make it technically illegal in New York City, which permits electric scooters but has banned engine-powered ones like Charlie's. He's a bit of an outlaw.</ref>

Charlie uses [[noise-canceling headphones]] (with or without his [[iPod]]), an ugly Dylanesque appearance (poofy hair and an unstylish long jacket) to insulate himself from any contact or reminder of the upper middle-class world where he enjoyed life with his adoring family (a wife; daughters age 5, 7, and 9; and a small dog). He tools around Manhattan on a motorized scooter which he uses for quick getaways from unpleasant encounters.<ref>The scooter itself is just powerful enough to make it technically illegal in New York City, which permits electric scooters but has banned engine-powered ones like Charlie's. He's a bit of an outlaw.</ref>

Johnson's situation is the photonegative of Charlie's. Charlie gave up dentistry after 9/11, Johnson is the leader of a clinic with 4 other dentists. Charlie maintains a disheveled appearance and hides in his apartment fiddling with his record collection, remodeling his kitchen, playing Shadow of the Colossus or behind a drum kit in a seedy club playing rage rock; Johnson's grooming and apparel and demeanor are so attractive that women are constantly hitting on him at work. Charlie apparently only knows three people: a landlord and lawyer who enable him to stay isolated, and an exploitative bar owner; Johnson knows many people but is not emotionally close to any of them: he's the classic [[Men Are From Mars, Women Are From Venus|Man From Mars]] with his wife, never listens to his daughter, gets blown off by his receptionist, and his dental partners refuse to back him when a patient threatens a bogus sexual harassment lawsuit.

Johnson's situation is the photonegative of Charlie's. Charlie gave up dentistry after 9/11, Johnson is the leader of a clinic with 4 other dentists. Charlie maintains a disheveled appearance and hides in his apartment fiddling with his record collection, remodeling his kitchen, playing Shadow of the Colossus or behind a drum kit in a seedy club playing rage rock; Johnson's grooming and apparel and demeanor are so attractive that women are constantly hitting on him at work. Charlie apparently only knows three people: a landlord and lawyer who enable him to stay isolated, and an exploitative bar owner; Johnson knows many people but is not emotionally close to any of them: he's the classic [[Men Are From Mars, Women Are From Venus|Man From Mars]] with his wife, never listens to his daughter, gets blown off by his receptionist, and his dental partners refuse to back him when a patient threatens a bogus sexual harassment lawsuit.

When Johnson spots Charlie after 5 years of rebuffed contact, it takes him two tries to connect. Johnson is surprised that Charlie doesn't recognize him, and it takes quite a bit of effort to convince him they were once friends.

When Johnson spots Charlie after 5 years of rebuffed contact, it takes him two tries to connect. Johnson is surprised that Charlie doesn't recognize him, and it takes quite a bit of effort to convince him they were once friends.

Attempts by Johnson to bring up Charlie's dead family result in outbursts of rage and violence from him. The first time, in the seedy bar where Charlie plays the drums in a band, teetotaler Charlie demands "Who sent you?" and throws root beer in Johnson's face. The second time, he trashes Johnson's dental office. <ref>What he destroys here is symbolic of his grief: pictures torn from the walls, and lamp like his mother-in-law's favorite.</ref>

Attempts by Johnson to bring up Charlie's dead family result in outbursts of rage and violence from him. The first time, in the seedy bar where Charlie plays the drums in a band, teetotaler Charlie demands "Who sent you?" and throws root beer in Johnson's face. The second time, he trashes Johnson's dental office.<ref>What he destroys here is symbolic of his grief: pictures torn from the walls, and lamp like his mother-in-law's favorite.</ref>

Johnson has been trying inappropriately to get informal psych help from Angela Oakhurst, a (young) lady therapist in his office building ([[Liv Tyler]], who played a PhD. psych student in [[Jersey Girl]] and apparently graduated in time for this movie!), describing his own situation in terms of a 'friend'. After fruitless attempts to help Charlie himself or set him up with a middle-aged (male) therapist, he gets her to take him on. Their sessions are short, and Charlie ends them the moment she asks any questions about the "thoughts" he's been avoiding.

Johnson has been trying inappropriately to get informal psych help from Angela Oakhurst, a (young) lady therapist in his office building ([[Liv Tyler]], who played a PhD. psych student in [[Jersey Girl]] and apparently graduated in time for this movie!), describing his own situation in terms of a 'friend'. After fruitless attempts to help Charlie himself or set him up with a middle-aged (male) therapist, he gets her to take him on. Their sessions are short, and Charlie ends them the moment she asks any questions about the "thoughts" he's been avoiding.