How far can you trust a best friend? Harry, played by Chris Cooper, who is married to Pat (Patricia Clarkson), confides to his pal Richard (Pierce Brosnan), that he has fallen for another woman and would like to leave his wife. The skeptical Richard is bowled over when Harry, a mousy sort of guy, introduces his new love, Kay, a knockout played by Rachel McAdams. What’s a type like Harry doing with a girl like that? The question nags at Richard, who becomes attracted to Kay, who seems utterly devoted to the doting Harry.

But when Harry is away, Richard will play. So begin various twists and turns, with Harry trying to find a way to get rid of Pat without upsetting her, and Richard deviously pursuing Kay. Even as the suspense builds, the results are entertainingly wicked, and the film keeps a cool tone spiced with amusing dialogue and plotting, all the while feeding us some in-depth perspective on the love game.

One amusing reversal is Harry’s complaining that his wife wants mainly sex and doesn’t care for him in the war Kay does. A husband complaining about a wife wanting too much sex? Very droll. And what’s really going on with Pat?

The film is well edited, a credit to Affonso Gonçalves, and the pace is smooth. Most appealing are the stars. Cooper makes the perfect Harry, and is especially good as he rationalizes his scheme for disposing of his wife. Brosnan is a good looking charmer. McAdams looks lovely, and her acting puts over the sincerity of how she feels about Harry. Patricia Clarkson, an extraordinary actress, makes Pat thoroughly believable and interesting as well.