Barbra Streisand hates what she sees in the mirror every morning, at least she does in her latest movie. In ‘The Mirror Has Two Faces,’ she portrays Rose Morgan, a forty-something literature professor at Columbia University who has spent her life overshadowed by her much more attractive sister Claire, played by Mimi Rogers.Rose gives up on love after her sister steals and marries a former boyfriend, played by Pierce Brosnan.Claire does try to do something nice for her sister, who deserves it after enduring Claire’s wedding in a frilly pink bridesmaid’s dress. She answers a personal ad in Rose’s name and sets her up with mathematics professor Gregory Larkin.Unfortunately for Rose, the handsome Larkin (Jeff Bridges) is looking for comfortable companionship, not love. The socially awkward professor has been burned by too many beautiful women, and he’s looking for someone to talk to, not sleep with.Unattractive Rose is perfect for the position.Rose’s frustration with this platonic situation grows throughout the movie, until her mother convinces her that she, like her sister, can be pretty.Rose diets, exercises and transforms her appearance, to the delight of the freshman guys in her literature class. But convinced that sex ruins everything, Larkin is not as pleased with the result ‘ now she is attractive and harder to resist.As you may have guessed, this Hollywood-perfect romance draws heavily on the old story of the ugly duckling.The major flaw in this premise is Streisand has a hard time looking unattractive. Granted, she is not a classic beauty, but she looked pretty throughout the movie.Despite the unfortunate message about weight and beauty, ‘The Mirror Has Two Faces’ turns out to be a pretty good movie. Streisand and Bridges work very well together, both in the awkwardness of the earlier scenes and through the romantic ending.Their characters are also well-developed. They actually seem like real people, although I’ve never had a professor who taught quite as well as Rose.Lauren Bacall does an excellent job as Streisand’s mother, Hannah. Bacall’s character, although initially stereotyped as an interfering Jewish mother, shows much greater depth later in the movie.This trio of characters is supported by a well-shaped plot. The movie is complex enough to allow the characters to change.It’s also complicated enough to keep the audience wondering how the romance between Rose and Larkin will work out. Even if you think you know how it ends, you’ll want to know how it gets there.Pierce Brosnan works well as the sleazeball foil to Larkin. You know exactly what kind of man he is when he starts flirting with his wife’s sister at the wedding.The only confusing character is Claire. It’s not clear exactly why she is so self-centered and unhappy in her marriage.Despite a few flaws, ‘The Mirror Has Two Faces’ is quite enjoyable. The important central message, that true love is based on more than physical attraction, comes through without being overly pushy.Barbra Streisand’s acting, directing and producing talents have once more resulted in an excellent movie.