We see four people going through their individual lives when, at a moment in time, they collide in London. In some manner or form they are all looking for passion, love, acceptance and a stable future.

After leaving the theatre I hoped people did NOT feel these characters were the current example/role models for relationships. They aren't. For me they are an examination of what many do but what NOT TO DO in a relationship and in that way this film is great learning tool.

My main piece of advice in relationships is pay attention to people's behavior; words are words and the words often aren't in sync with what people do.

Three of these characters are classic examples of watch-the-action-not-the-words for the real story. Julia Roberts, Jude law and Clive Owen's characters. seem to feel words spoken after actions can make everything okay, that their less-than-loving actions and behaviors can be easily explained away or justified by words. As Julia Roberts character states to Jude Law "If you loved me enough you would know my having sex with my ex-husband so he would sign the divorce decree wouldn't matter. You would know I did it for us". Jude Law's reaction shows words do not take the place of actions.

Three of the characters we meet are a physician, an accomplished photographer and a newspaper columnist. In an interesting twist the least socially acceptable character the exotic dancer, played by Natalie Portman, has the most honest and pure character in the film. She says what she does, loves the duplicitous Jude law character, tells the Julia Roberts character what she sees upon their first meeting and repeatedly tells the Clive Owen character the truth about her identity even as he vehemently accuses of her of lying.

What the first three characters lacked for one another is respect for their partner. In ten years of working with and watching couples, respect in behavior and attitude is singularly the most important behavior indicator of relationship happiness, satisfaction and longevity; because when respect is in place there simply are things partners will/would not do to one another.