The Next Best Thing

Rating:
Summary: The next best thing to tonsilectomy!
Review: I just had my tonsils taken out, and that was the most painful experience of my life. Watching this movie was a close second.

Madonna has got to be the worst actress to get on a movie screen. Her inability to express any emotion is uncanny. Rupert is no better. Just because someone speaks with an English accent, that doesn't make him a good actor (as some reviewers tend to think). He literally competes with Madonna throughout the entire movie to see who will put the least effort and emotion in a scene. At least Madonna has got her music to fall back on. The plot is so silly that it doesn't even deserve a mention. The dramatic turn, half way through the movie, only makes the actors more uncomfortable, becoming even more unconvincing.

Please, Madonna, stick to your music. We love your albums, but your movies stink!

Rating:
Summary: Good Try Madonna
Review: OK.. I saw this movie when it came out in theaters. I saw it on opening night and the theater where I am, in Atlanta, was packed. Everyone laughed at the funny parts and in general seemed to like the film, but it did bomb. Madonna is not that bad of an actor. I think the problem is her persona is so huge people can't look at the screen without thinking of Madonna as a singer/mega-star...the woman some love to hate. I am biased and very much on Madonna's side....however, the movie wasn't that bad. The soundtrack is EXCELLENT. Especially her song "Time Stood Still", which was hardly in the movie and should have been included on her upcoming cd "Music"...or at least released as a single. Madonna just keeps on trying and trying to get it right...and I think one day she will make a big movie. She certainly has accomplished ALL her other goals. If you haven't seen the movie....watch it. Also, check her out in "Dangerous Game"......she acted WONDERFULLY in that film.

Rating:
Summary: Pathetic
Review: ... A San Fransisco newspaper called this film '.....hideous. Anabomination'.

I couldn't agree more. The direction is shockinglyamateurish, and the performance of Madonna is disturbing - justbecause we get to see that what little spark we saw in 'Evita' wasjust fluke. She is not an actress. That said, you can sit down to thisfilm with the knowledge that nothing interesting will ever happen, andthat the films grand statement on gay parenting is both sad anddisillusioning.

Rupert is bearable as Robert, his natural good looksand ease with the camera make him eye candy, and he does lend his rolesome sense of dignity. Indeed, one of the better and more thoughtprovoking scenes in the film is when Robert is in bed with hiscardiologist boyfriend. Certainly not because of the trite dialogue,however.

Also, the child they got to play Madonna's son isunbearable. Obviously, if Madonna and Rupert had a child together, itwould NOT look that gross. And whats with 'American Pie' playing inthe background for most part of the film. Madonna also sings it at afuneral of a gay friend, and this scene is unintentionallycomic. Though at the end of it, the only word to use is 'pathetic'. Sosad to see aging performer make wrong movie role choices. At leastEverett should have known better.

And Benjamin Bratt looks like aten dollar male gigolo minus the sex appeal. Now, THATS aninsult. Save your money, and catch something far better, and somethingthat doesn't insult your intelligence as much as this onedoes. Something like 'South Park' or 'Pamela Anderson's 10 minuteboobie-lifts'.

Rating:
Summary: MADONNA PUSHING A GROCERY CART? RIIIIGGGHHHT!
Review: I SAW THIS MOVIE ON MY WAY FROM SEATTLE TO TOKYO AND I WAS APALLED TO SEE TWO OF MY FAVORITE STARS LOOKING LIKE EVERYDAY PEOPLE. HODGE PODGE! THE STORY IS A GOOD STORY AND I LOVE THE WAY THIS MOVIE REFLECTS ON HOW HARD IT REALLY IS TO FIND SOMEONE YOU WANT TO FALL IN LOVE WITH BUT RUPERT AND MADONNA DON'T BELONG HERE. IT'S JUST NOT BELIEVABLE. THE ENDING NEEDED A LOT MORE AS WELL. A LOT MORE! I WOULD PUT SOMETHING IN FOR THE DVD BUT I HAVEN'T VIEWED IT AND I DON'T REALLY HAVE A DESIRE TO SINCE THIS MOVIE IS JUST BASIC HOLLYWOOD MUMBO JUMBO STARRING BIG NAMES.

Rating:
Summary: 3 stars but only for Madonna and she is lucky she gets these
Review: First off, movie goers hated it. The Box Office says it all. Second, what kind of movie is this? As a comedy, it fails. As a drama IT FAILS BIG TIME! This could be Everett's fault, Do NOT let actors run your film. Anyway have you heard Madonna's hot new song? It is Great, ironically it's called Music and thats what she should stick to. I guess it would do no good to some but I honestly love Madonna and she has been good in some films, check out Dangerous Game.

Rating:
Summary: Madonna gives a flawless performance
Review: Critics do not know what they are doing or saying.This movie was far from bad in fact it was one of the best films of 2000.Madonna was perfect in the role of Abbie.I hope we see many more movies from Madonna she knows what she is doing.

Rating:
Summary: Madonna Deserves Much Much Better
Review: The main problem with "The Next Best Thing" is that the movie is very flat and some parts leave you thinking "what?". The acting was terrific but I didn't feel that Madonna's character and Rupert's character were best friends at all, in fact Madonna's character was extremely underdeveloped. Her not allowing Rupert to see the boy came out of nowhere, and was totally stupid. Madonna is a good actress but this movie won't help that aspect of her career at all. "The Next Best Thing" is bogged down in melodramatic nosense that hides it potential to really make an important statement about the changing reality of families. And the ending! I was so mad-I thought "This is totally twisted-it is too stupid!". If you want to see a good Madonna movie, skip "The Next Best Thing" and grab "Evita".

Rating:
Summary: The next best thing to "Object of My Affection"
Review: Actually, I'd give it three ana half stars if I could. I went to see this at the movies. I thought it was great. Then, I rented a similar movie called "The Object of My Affection" which was better in many ways but this was still not a bad movie. Madonna I thought gave a very good performance... better than her acting in "Evita" (which, ironically, that one which I've seen done a hundred times better on stage was praised by the critics). The actors in the film have never looked better... it's almost like the old Hollywood movies where everyone has star quality but it has more modern themes. I think it almost needs to be viewd though as if it's two acts. Act One is a sitcom about these two best friends. Act Two is a drama about these two friends raising a child. I'm so sick of critics saying it couldn't decide if it was comedy or drama. You'll laugh. You'll cry a little... which means the movie did its job. It makes its audience feel.

Rating:
Summary: A fantastic movie for adults
Review: When I first heard about this movie and its story I felt very moved by it. But when I started reading the negative critics about it, I felt it maybe wasn't so nice as I thought it would be. But I went to the cinema and watched it. And then realized that I wasn't wrong about the movie because it is great! From the sountrack to its images and actor's performances, everything is cool. Some people said that the end of it was poor and previsible, but I desagree. The final shows that if you really care about someone, sometimes it's necessary to forgive, forget the past and go on with life. And that's what happens in the movie. Madonna did a very good job such as Rupert and the rest of the cast. Have a really fun time while watching! If you have enough maturity to undertand, watch it! I'm certain that you'll enjoy!

Rating:
Summary: The movie is funny and who cares what the critics say,anyway
Review: I went to see this movie, and I must say had my doubts about it after reading all the trash that has been produced, but to my surprise I found a funny and I must say beautifully filmed movie, with a more than ever relaxed performing Madonna, once again the critics were eager to judge this movie and even worse Madonna, my guess is that it does't seem to matter what she does (when acting) they allready jump to conclusions without even watching with an open eye and open mind and might for once try to forget to reflect everything on her real life, well maybe she's just too much an Icon and image, anyway I loved it and Madonna in it ! And I will surely order this movie on DVD !