William Hurt or Albert Brooks

Aaron was so much more interesting. Tom was so boring and humorless.

I personally can't see WHY William Hurt got an Oscar nomination. I mean, his character was just ... nothing.

There's no room here for this debate because if Aaron ever had any chance with Jane it must have been long before Tom entered the picture.
I think it was a Seinfeld episode where the answer surfaced: "If you want anything with a girl, don't ever let yourself pulled into the friendship cauldron"
Or something like that.

If pigs had wings the sh*t of this world would be perfectly shared

Aww, I love both of them in different ways. Tom/William Hurt has the movie star good looks, but Aaron/Albert is quirky-cute in a real guy sort of way. There was something so endearing about Aaron, and I also liked his snarkiness.

Tom..well I love the scene where he kind of clasps his hands over his heart when he sees Jane (after the part where she says to herself, "If he doesn't see me soon, we're not meant to be together."). It was cute the way he was with her. They just weren't very compatible.

I disagree, I thought William Hurt did a great job portraying a sort of bland everyman who accidentally landed a career as a newscaster. Brooks' character...more intelligent, sure. Funnier...I guess. More attractive...hell no. Even though he might have been more intelligent, he was also far too idealistic and far too bitter. That kind of idealism and shock over how superficial the world is...that's cute on a sixteen year old, not on an adult man. But then again...since Jane shared his immature idealism, they seemed to be a perfect match. Except who wants to date a twin? They really seemed to have a platonic vibe. I think that the fake tear was disgusting, and with Jane's sensibilities I can see how it would be a dealbreaker for her. But I still don't think she'd end up with someone like Aaron, who probably matches her too much and who she likely has zero physical attraction for.

rtcnz, i couldn't agree more. if i were jane, i would be with aaron in a nanosecond over mr. bland & boring pretty boy tom.

she must have been subconsciously thinking that tom's good looks would help fulfill some self-esteem void in her. but, aaron was already her friend and they shared a proven history and a respect for one another. i can't figure it out.

aaron is so funny and sexy and smart and sexy and sweet and sexy and accomplished and sexy.

this is one of the best movies ever. ever.

Aaron was the perfect match for her, they are both smart, relatively unattractive eggheads who have some depth to their personalities. Jane was an idiot in one sense, she should have seen through Tom long before, in fact she did and then got taken in by his good looks.

Between the two,Tom had more power, is better looking and probably will earn more money, all of which often trumps personality and brains.

'Power is the ultimate aphrodisiac' - Henry Kissinger