There are undeniably some bright moments in "The Fortune Cookie", and the much-praised performances were indeed excellent. But this movie is fatally overlong! Its one-joke premise cannot really sustain 120 minutes, so the second half too often seems to meander. Combine that with the static nature of the plot and with the fact that this is the kind of comedy that produces only mild amusement (and moral messages), not belly-laughs, and you'll end up with a rather middling flick. (**)