In Anand Tucker's prettily shot adaptation of Steve Martin's novella, Mirabelle (Claire Danes), a vaguely bored and emotionally skittish clerk at Saks', courts two suitors: Jeremy (Jason Schwartzman), a slovenly, unsophisticated slacker who might be a diamond in the rough, and Ray (Martin), a suave, wealthy middle-aged man. Mirabell's ultimate choice is never in doubt -- the film's narration telegraphs it from the opening - so Martin's tale is of the journey that each of these three hearts undertakes. More adult and considerably less frantic than most romantic comedies, Shopgirl also luxuriates in its sublime bittersweetness. Not that there aren't laughs (and for this we thank Schwartzman). While charming, Shopgirl is still an artificial construct, set in a L.A. of fewer than six people -- and perhaps only a middle-aged male author would offer the lovely Mirabelle so few choices, and tease us at such length by offering her fulfillment as a kept pet. (AH) 
SHOPGIRL
