Nora Ephron's autobiographical novel chronicling the breakup of her marriage to investigative journalist Carl Bernstein (ALL THE PRESIDENT'S MEN) is adapted for the big screen by director Mike Nichols and solidly acted by Meryl Streep and Jack Nicholson. Rachel Samstat (Streep) is Ephron's stand-in, a New York food writer who falls for and marries Washington political columnist Mark Forman (Nicholson) despite her initial misgivings. And it isn't long before a second pregnancy, separate homes, and the return of Mark's womanizing places a strain on the marriage that results in a bitter divorce and inspires Rachel's cynical musings on the nature of love, sex, and relationships.

In this adaptation of the best-selling roman à clef about Bill Clinton's 1992 run for the White House, the young and gifted Henry Burton is tapped to oversee the presidential campaign of Governor Jack Stanton. Burton is pulled into the politician's colorful world and looks on as Stanton -- who has a wandering eye that could be his downfall -- contends with his ambitious wife, Susan, and an outspoken adviser, Richard Jemmons.

In the wake of their friends' marriages and eventual offspring, longtime pals Julie and Jason decide to have a child together without becoming a couple. By becoming "time-share" parents, they reason, they can experience the joys of parenthood without significantly curbing their personal freedom. However, when Julie and Jason both become involved with others, they discover that they secretly harbor romantic feelings for each other.