Before September 11, New Yorkers had a certain stereotypical image – that of people going about their business, not caring too much about anyone else. Sidewalks of New York plays on this image with a story of six seemingly unconnected New Yorkers who end up intertwined in life and love. Tommy (writer/director Edward Burns), who grew up in Queens but now lives in Midtown luxury, meets schoolteacher Maria (Rosario Dawson) at a video store and tries to charm her into a date. She is still smarting, though, from her divorce from goofy, still-clinging Benjamin (David Krumholtz), a songwriter/doorman from Brooklyn. He eventually transfers his affections to sexy Ashley (Brittany Murphy), an Iowan now waitressing in Greenwich Village. But she is involved with arrogant Griffin (Stanley Tucci), a dentist originally from the Bronx but who is now married to (and cheating on) beautiful Annie (Heather Graham), a born and bred Upper East Sider. All go on a journey involving love, sex, and self-discovery.

Sidewalks is Burns’ fourth film as writer, director, actor, and producer (after The Brothers McMullen, She’s the One, and No Looking Back), and he again returns to his New York roots. But though the film is entertaining and has some insightful dialogue and good acting, ultimately it feels somewhat flat. Perhaps it is because other films have used these devices before; perhaps it is because Burns brings up many questions about relationships but fails to answer any of them very profoundly. And though it is nice to see New York in a state of normalcy, walking the Sidewalks of New York doesn’t bring us anywhere we haven’t been before.