MOSS 2007: Adding Filter to ListView web part

Question

I have been dropped into a sharepoint 2007 project, and i have relatively little experience with altering existing webparts.

My first task is to add a filter to two out of three columns in a list view. My Lead Dev suggests trying to add a jquery combo-box filter, and another dev suggests extending the web part and overriding some of the functionality.

What i think is a good option is to change the context menu for the list view headers, so that instead of "Show Filter Choices" bringing up a standard dropdownlist that only responds to the first letter, it would have a jquery combobox. And maybe if the business requests it, change the wording of that option.

My question to you is, what would be a good path to take on this? Also, what resources are there besides traipsing around books and blogs are there to guide an sp newbie to do this?

Thanks.