In this ugly-duckling comedy directed by Streisand and scripted by Richard LaGravenese (The Fisher King), Columbia professor Jeff Bridges is tired of sex and goes in search of a platonic relationship based on mutual respect and intelligence, setting his sights on marrying homely colleague Streisand. But romance without sex proves difficult in practice, not least when Streisand’s catty mother Lauren Bacall subjects her to a makeover.