Melanie Parker (Michelle Pfeiffer), an architect and mother of Sammy, and Jack Taylor (George Clooney), a newspaper columnist and father of Maggie, are both divorced. They meet one morning when overwhelmed Jack is left unexpectedly with Maggie and forgets that Melanie was to take her to school. As a result, both children miss their school field trip and are stuck with the parents. The two adults project their negative stereotypes of ex-spouses on each other, but end up needing to rely on each other to watch the children as each must save his job. Humor is added by Sammy's propensity for lodging objects in his nose and Maggie's tendency to wander.

otsoNY Comments: Jack Taylor wears the same exact clothes from start to finish in the film after he takes Maggie to school while Melanie has several clothing changes that include her pajamas that she opens and ends the film with and some due to accidents like Sammy squirting juice on her blouse, the chocolate pudding accident, and the orange woolen coat she wears during the press conference at City Hall.

Broadway and West 73rd Street, Manhattan.

East 70th Street (btw 3rd Avenue and Lexington Avenue) Manhattan.

otsoNY Comments: The school that was used for the scene where Jack and Melanie find their children's class had already left is a private college called the New York School of Interior Design or NYSID. The red front doors were added for the filming.

School, 170 East 70th Street (btw 3rd Avenue and Lexington Avenue) Manhattan.

otsoNY Comments: The plastic wrap on the fishbowl changes between shots. When Melanie first leaves her apartment to go to Maggie's there is no wrap on it. When she's on the street and arrives at school it is covered with wrap and a rubber band. Maggie removes the wrap at breakfast and it remains uncovered when Jack takes it to his office.

otsoNY Comments: The film is supposed to take place during early Spring. It is noticeable with many scenes that take place with rain in the background or given the appearance that has rained. These include when Jack, Maggie, Melanie and Sammy are late for the trip on the Circle Line.

Circle Line Pier 83, 12th Avenue and West 42nd Street, Manhattan.

Mel's Workplace, 45 Rockefeller Plaza, 5th Avenue (btw East 50th & 51st Streets) Manhattan.

Grand Central Restaurant, 89 East 42nd Street and Park Avenue, Manhattan.

otsoNY Comments: Although this looks like midtown Manhattan, and for most, if not all of the film was shot in New York City, there were some scenes, particularly the apartmemt interior scenes that were in fact shot on Stage 15 at 20th Century Fox Studios in Los Angeles, California. It is unclear as to why this scene was shot in Los Angeles, but as it stands, it was filmed on South Broadway between West 7th and 8th Streets.

Broadway (btw West 7th and 8th Streets) Los Angeles, California.

Park Avenue and East 41st Street, Manhattan.

Jack's Workplace, 60 East 42nd Street and Vanderbilt Avenue, Manhattan.

Downing Street Playground, Downing Street and Carmine Street, Manhattan.

Broadway (btw West 73rd and 74th Streets) Manhattan.

(Entrance) 1 Centre Street and Chambers Street, Manhattan.

(Rooftop) 1 Centre Street and Chambers Street, Manhattan.

Park Avenue and East 41st Street, Manhattan.

Jack's Workplace, 60 East 42nd Street and Vanderbilt Avenue, Manhattan.

6th Avenue and Bleecker Street, Manhattan.

(Central Park Exit) Central Park West (btw West 78th and 79th Streets) Manhattan.

Natural History Museum, Central Park West and West 79th Street, Manhattan.

West 50th Street (btw 5th and 6th Avenues) Manhattan.

Mel's Workplace, 45 Rockefeller Plaza, 5th Avenue (btw East 50th & 51st Streets) Manhattan.

otsoNY Comments: Serendipity 3, often written Serendipity III, is a popular restaurant in the Upper East Side of Manhattan founded by Stephen Bruce in 1954. While the restaurant is known for its foot-long hot dogs and frozen drinks, particularly its trademark "Frozen Hot chocolate", it offers a full menu. The restaurant has constantly been ranked as a favourite among Manhattanites, tourists, and celebrities. The gift shop is known for its kitschy novelty gifts.

Serendipity III, 225 East 60th Street (btw 2nd and 3rd Avenues) Manhattan.

otsoNY Comments: In more recent times, the sign on the building changed from Elizabeth Arden to 689 Fifth Avenue.

The Elizabeth Arden Building, 689-691 5th Avenue and East 54th Street, Manhattan.

Shop, 219 East 60th Street (btw 2nd & 3rd Avenues) Manhattan.

East 60th Street (btw 2nd & 3rd Avenues) Manhattan.

otsoNY Comments: The press conference scene where Jack confronts the NYC Mayor is supposed to be in City Hall in Manhattan but was actually filmed inside Brooklyn Borough Hall which is the office of the Brooklyn Borough President.

Brooklyn Borough Hall, 209 Joralemon Street and Court Street, Brooklyn.

(Near Brooklyn Municipal Building) 210 Joralemon Street and Court Street, Brooklyn.

21 Club, 21 West 52nd Street (btw 5th and 6th Avenues) Manhattan.

West 52nd Street (btw 5th and 6th Avenues) Manhattan.

6th Avenue and West 54th Street, Manhattan.

6th Avenue (btw West 54th & 55th Streets) Manhattan.

Carnegie Deli, 854 7th Avenue and West 55th Street, Manhattan.

The Mall, Central Park, Manhattan.

otsoNY Comments: While the film was in production, Entertainment Tonight did a segment on the film during filming which was the scene at Bethesada Gardens in Central Park in March 1996 which was one of the earliest scenes filmed.

Bethesda Terrace (Mid-Park at 72nd Street) Central Park, Manhattan.

East Meadow, Central Park (btw East 97th & 102nd Streets) Manhattan.