"Stepmom" is essentially three films in one, each with a different theme. Unfortunately, the best theme comes first, and the worst theme is last, resulting a film with some early promise becoming muddled into a sluggish would-be tearfest.
Jackie (Susan Sarandon) is a divorced mother
of two kids, sharing their custody with
their father Luke (Ed Harris). The two kids
are Ben (Liam Aiken), the world's sweetest
nine year old, and his twelve year old sister
Anna (Jena Malone), who is much more prone
to brattiness.
When the much younger Isabel (Julia Roberts)
moves in with Luke, Jackie feels threatened.
After all, Isabel is younger, prettier,
nicer, and better employed (as a fashion
photographer, no less). Jackie decides to
treat Isabel very poorly, with a big assist
from Anna. While Ben is incapable of
being mean to anyone, he does what he can
by hiding, forcing Isabel to frantically
search for him.
In Part Two, we learn that Jackie has
cancer. Unlike Meryl Streep in "One True
Thing", however, we don't feel her suffering
or see her losses. Sarandon's character
remains unsympathetic, and she seems to be
sick only in every third scene.
In Part Three, Sarandon finally decides
to stop being a b*tch, and makes peace
with Isabel. Sarandon then has lengthy
conversations with each of the other four
major characters; each designed to be
tearjerkers, but all falling short since
the dialogue is at the level of a daytime
soap opera.
"Stepmom" has a good if familiar premise,
and a stellar cast, but in the end can't
overcome its problems with script and
manipulative direction. (52/100)
A touching story of unlikely friendship between two remarkablewomen. A hilarious, poignant, heartfelt drama about the tearswe shed and the joys we sha...More at Buy.com Marketplaces
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