I remember when this film came out there was an aritcle about how James L. Brooks had written the Tea Leoni character after his ex-wife. It pretty much stated that the character was such a loathsome one because Brooks hated his ex. If you notice the film spends way too much time with her and she never is likeable, even in the end. So, Brooks made a movie to get back at his wife. Man, he musta hated that chick.