Stepmom

Rating:
Summary: Focuses on family and children.
Review: Julia Roberts and Susan Sarandon light up the screen in "Stepmom," a heartwarming and emotionally involving comedy/drama which tells the story of two women, one divorced, the other married to her ex-husband, and the hurdles they must jump in order to find a common ground of understanding. The movie has it laughs, tears, and an upbeat attitude that keeps going throughout, telling its story in an appealing fashion with the help of its brilliant cast and director Chris Columbus. You can enjoy this movie for everything it has to offer and feel satisfied in the end with how you spent your time; I did.

Jackie and Luke are divorced, which is emotionally taxing on their two children, Anna and Ben, Anna refusing to accept the fact that her parents are never getting back together again. Ben is too young to understand much of what is going on; he merely aides Anna in making Luke's girlfriend, Isabel, completely miserable. This includes hounding her for unwashed laundry, putting down her lunches, and just about anything they can to make it look like they have been treated with less care than they would under their mother. The movie's setup of these relationships between different characters is well-done, keeping its focus on the children's actions and their feelings on the situations they are put into.

As most ex-wives will do, Jackie is condescending of Isabel, looking down on her as a self-centered woman who cares more for her work and personal life than for the children under her care. They have many sparring sessions and heated arguments, but it's clear that they cannot argue forever, and as the children begin to warm to Isabel, so does the friendship between Jackie and Isabel begin to form. Soon, they are helping each other through tough times, trading tips on caring for the children, but still maintaining that small spark of conflict which will surface time and again as Jackie realizes her children are no longer solely under her influence.

The movie deals with a lot of real-to-life family issues that will hit home with most viewers and is sure to strike an emotional chord in audiences everywhere. One of those issues is the fact that a divorce is more about how to deal with the children than about getting on with life. The movie does not take away the focus from the childrens' feelings towards their situation. At one point, Anna stands up and shouts, "You didn't ask me if I wanted a new mother!" The story is still about the feud between Jackie and Isabel, but this feud centers around what each of them feels is best for the children, keeping with the fact that in a divorce, they are the ones who are most affected.

Actors Jena Malone and Liam Aiken, Anna and Ben, do a terrific job in bringing out all of that emotion and feeling in their characters. Aiken's character is not required to be as emotional as Malone's: he is only eight years old in the movie, and does not clearly understand what his parents are going through. He is merely along for the ride, going with what his parents say and what his sister wants, and Aiken brings all of that childhood innocence out perfectly and with believability. Malone must provide a much more involved role: her character is older, and lashes out against her father for leaving his mother and preparing to be with a woman half his age. Malone is full of tears, anger, and laughs, and her performance is heartwrenching and convincing.

Another issue is embedded in the relationship between Jackie and Isabel. Jackie has the maternal instinct where Isabel is trying her best, and the story is intensified emotionally by the clashes in how they feel the children should be raised. When Jackie realizes that Isabel is going to be a permanent part of her children's lives, she also comes to the realization that she cannot keep arguing with her about how to raise the children. As they come to an understanding of one another, it's intriguing to watch the two actresses interact onscreen.

Susan Sarandon is plays Jackie, who is stubborn and becomes quite disturbed when Isabel steps onto her turf. She brings out all this emotion and feeling, as well as her actions and reactions, convincingly, matching the performance of Roberts, her opposite. Roberts is Isabel, and she brings all the brightness and charm of her own person into the role while also maintaining a short emotional fuse. It is easy to see that the two actresses are having fun in their roles, and their pairing for this movie is outstanding. Their performances make this one of the best movies of the year. Ed Harris plays the part of Luke, who knows how Jackie feels but wishes that she and Isabel would be able to come to an understanding of one another. His performance is earnest and warming, and like his costars, he makes his role believable and interesting.

"Stepmom" is one of those feel-good movies that was able to keep my interest throughout. There is a twist in the plot that I dare not even mention, because the filmmakers and producers have done a pretty good job of not giving it away in the promotional material. There is a lot of love between the characters, brought out by the stellar cast and a director whose films in this field have excelled. Based on emotional depth and connectivity, "Stepmom" is a nice piece of heart that is filled with true human feeling.

Rating:
Summary: A struggle for acceptance
Review: One of the films that launched Julia Roberts into superstardom as an actress. Here's a situation that so many of us can relate to; children from a previous marriage are torn between their natural parent and a new stepparent. This film has a wonderful blend of funny and heart-wrenching moments. A precociously good performance is rendered by young Liam Aiken as "Ben". This is another film that has to be placed on the "don't miss" list.

Rating:
Summary: SOPPY, SAPPY TEARJERKER
Review: Way, way, way too overemotional and contrived. Ed Harris wants to marry his girlfriend, Julia Roberts. But his kids from his previous marriage to Susan Sarandon don't like her, and Susan Sarandon hates her. So naturally she has to win them all over... and of course tragedy has to happen, so Susan is stricken with cancer and will be out of the picture soon enough. Yes, there are some winning moments here. It would be difficult to have a film with all these well known and often brilliant actors without having some really great moments. But overall this is not a thrilling or interesting film.

Rating:
Summary: Have your Kleenex ready!
Review: This was truly a heartfelt movie which had a few comical moments and a heart wrenching storyline.

The story begins as the live-in girlfriend, Isabel(Julia Roberts) of Luke (Ed Harris) wakes up late and tries to get the kids ready for school. Isabel spends a large part of this movie trying to find a way into the two children's lives and to have them accept her as part of theirs. And of course this is never easy. The role of Mom(Susan Sarandon) is built as a strong character who has endured her husband leaving her and is trying to raise her kids with shared custody. She is often characterized as the one who can do no wrong. The plot thickens as the children and the audience sees Luke wanting to marry Isabel and then their mother falling sick with cancer.

This was a truly outstanding film both because of the actors themselves, but also because it brought the audience so close to the heart of the film.

I would definately recommend that anyone see this movie, especially if you need a good cry or if you are a parent going through a divorce and/or remarriage. It may encourage people to be a little nicer to each other and see what a difference it may make to the children who too often get stuck in the middle.

Rating:
Summary: WELL DONE
Review: This five-hanky "women's picture" was unfairly shut out of the Oscar race a few years back. It features a mostly terrific -- and consciously sentimental -- screenplay that allows its two stars, Julia Roberts and Susan Sarandon, to cover new territory as actresses. The biting, realistic dialog between two strong, competitive women resonates with the ring of truth. The children in the movie shine throughout, and Ed Harris is, as usual, appealing, masculine, bringing gravity to his role as the man in the middle. The Christmas settings, the snowfalls, the terminal illness, and the classic song "Ain't No Mountain High Enough" all combine to produce more than a few well-earned tears, none more so than in the final ten minutes. Chris Columbus, the director, allows delicate, and sometimes not so delicate, humor, to ease the real pain of many of these well-wraught scenes. The Hollywood gloss notwithstanding, this is one of those human, heartfelt explorations into some unchartered territory. If you love movies you can cry with, you'll love Stepmom.

Rating:
Summary: I Love It!
Review: I loved this movie! It's very touching, it's sad and made me cry at the end, but it does have some funny parts thax to the cute young boy in the movie!) It's basically about a 13 yr old girl and her little brother who dislike their stepmom and, like all, absolutely love their real mom. You watch and see the rest.

Rating:
Summary: Failed my 3-M Rating System
Review: Oh for Lord's sakes. I can love a drama, but not when it hits all my hated M's -- Maudlin, Morose and Morbid. This overwraught sobfest features Susan Sarandon and Julia Roberts as mom and stepmom respectively, working together to build a stable environment for the kids under trying circumstances (illness, kids' hostility towards Julia, Julia's busy career, a dad/husband who raises his voice, but can't lift a finger). While the premise is admirable, the result is lots of overacting and overreacting from the usually watchable Sarandon and Roberts. This is not a reason to spend your money -- a renter at most, if ever I saw one.

Rating:
Summary: Wonderful!One of My Favs.
Review: I can not even say how much I love this movie.It is great.It has happiness,sadness,anger.All the classic emotions.It stars Susan Sarandon,Ed Harris,Julia Roberts,Jena Malone,and Liam Alkien.It is about the struggles between a mother and a stepmother.Throwing in the twist of a serious illness.It is just great!!!I love it and it is one of my favorite movies of all time. :)

Rating:
Summary: AHHHHH
Review: After seeing this movie I ran to call my mother. This is an extremely touching and moving movie. It centers around Ed Harris and Susan Sarandon, who are divorced, having to deal with the fact that Sarandon has been diagnosed cancer. In addition Julia Roberts is now about to marry Ed Harris a.k.a. the name STEP MOM.

I completely enjoyed this movie. From its sadder to happier moments. I say watch with your mom.

Rating:
Summary: "Stepmom" Shines
Review: Simply put--I loved this movie. I laughed, I cried, I delved into my own relationship with my stepmother. No, this is not an action adventure shoot 'em up escape movie. (I like those too.) It is a glimpse into the dirty world of divorce, children, and illnesses that sometimes bring everyone together.

Julia Roberts as the trying-hard-to-win-over-the-kids younger fiancee. Susan Sarandon as the gritty you-will-not-take-over-my- life ex-wife. Both gifted actresses play well of each other.

Humor, pathos, deep sadness & victory make for a great tears streaming down your face emotional ride. Don't miss this one.

Thank you for your interest & comments--CDS