Galloping onto the screen, a bride in full gown rides horseback through a field of tall grass accompanied by U2's "Still haven't found what I'm looking for." "Runaway Bride" puts a strong hoof forward and never looks back. It's a film full of solid, polished dialogue with a great premise, a clinch cast and veteran director. It won't leave you sobbing at the altar.

New York columnist Ike Graham, infamous for his commentaries on the female of the species, writes a shoddy article on small towner Maggie Carpenter (Roberts) who has a knack for standing up grooms. Unlikely as it may seem, Graham doesn't check up on the story, jumbles facts and uses her actual name in the column. Carpenter writes back to the editor and Graham is canned. Seeking vengeance, he heads to Hale, Maryland to get the real story as Maggie makes her fourth attempt at the altar.

In my favorite scene, Gere shadows Roberts into a bakery where she is choosing bride/groom figures for the cake. Gere picks up the three inch bride whacking the little groom over the head with it, "Bam Bam Bam! Yeah, this one's Maggie all right."

Like Robert's recent "Notting Hill," it's a sure bet.