Stepmom
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Movie Reviews of Stepmom
Movie Review: Roberts and Sarandon Make 'Stepmom' Moving and Emotional
Summary: 5 Stars
Julia Roberts and Susan Sarandon truly give life to this remarkable tale of family, life, love, and loss. Director Chris Columbus (Harry Potter, Mrs. Doubtfire) superbly directs the well-defined script that not once questions its ability to work. Though an intelligent group of screenwriters and a good director are behind the film, it definitely reflects the typical Hollywood-tear jerker, but with quality.The film focuses on the Harrison family: Luke (Ed Harris), Jackie (Susan Sarandon), and their two children Anna (Jena Malone) and Ben (Liam Aiken). The wealthy New York family has all of the love, but all of the fights, especially those which have come from Luke and Jackie's past divorce. Luke's new love interest, and fiancé, is Isabel (Julia Roberts), a stylish, young, New York City photographer. She has absolutely no motherly experience, and is really not ready to be a stepmom, especially since the two children are indisputably close to their very maternal mother Jackie. From this, a slight feud between Jackie and Isabel comes about. Isabel is unhappy of how Jackie sees her as so irresponsible and careless, while Jackie is not ready to be replaced by someone with no parental experience. But after the family learns devastating news concerning Jackie's health, Isabel and Jackie must learn to get along, whether they are going to share motherhood or not.
Though there are some smiles and heart-filled scenes, the emotional and dramatic script offers a typical family drama story, in which a family is sometimes torn apart by the horrible consequences that life brings sometimes, and the difficulty of changes. Fortunately, the story plays out well with great direction, two amazing lead-female stars (also with executive producer spots), and a plot that keeps the audience emotionally attached throughout the film.
Malone and Aiken impress, as the emotionally hurt children that are suffering from their parents past divorce, while they must cope with Isabel, their soon to be stepmom. And despite some mild film-making don'ts, STEPMOM has few flaws, and truly shows us how "family" is more than just a word. The DVD features a "making of featurette," film trailer, and both Widescreen / Full-Screen versions.
Movie Review: Wonderful
Summary: 5 Stars
My mother and I watched this together on a Saturday night. We ended up sobbing by the end of this movie. It was very realistic. This movie potrays the family as they handle Jackie being diagnosed with cancer and the workings of a new family so well. You could relate to the part of Isabel as the girlfriend and new stepmom with two kids who dislike you immensely, no matter how hard you tried, and always compared you to their mother. And she also showed how difficult it is for the new wife to have two step-kids who will always hold their mother on the highest pedstal of love and perfection. Susan Sarandon gave a beautiful and emotional performance. She played Jackie, the mother. My mother and I could relate to how she felt about having her part as Mother and Sole Protector of her children usurped by this younger, beautiful, working girl. The young actors playing Ben and Anna gave a perfect performance as well. The actor playing Ben portrayed his part as young, happy-go-lucky kid, who will always love his mother, so well. The part where he said to his mother, "Mom, if you want me to hate her, I will." was so heart-wrenching. It showed his love for his mother. Anna played the part of the pre-teen who was going to go through her life withouth her mother so well. The conversations near the end with Ben and Anna with Jackie brought on sobs. Ed Harris also gave a good performance as the husband who tried to make the marriage work, but couldn't and now realizes, his first wife is dying. This movie deserves an oscar, five stars, and a box of tissues. I suggest you watch it with someone you really care about, a parent, aunt, grandparent, etc. We tried watching it with Dad, but he didn't get it. He made comments about the beautiful leaves in the fall scenes, and than left until the movie was over and came back again when we put in a Jackie Chan movie. But this movie is a must see. For the first time watching it, make sure you watch it with someone you really care about, it's worth it.Movie Review: "Mom, I'll hate her if you want me to."
Summary: 5 Stars
Photographer Isabel Kelly (Julia Roberts) steps into the role of Stepmom when she moves in with her older boyfriend, Luke Harrison (Ed Harris). He has two children, a young boy named Ben (Liam Aiken) and a teenage girl named Anna (Jena Malone), with his ex-wife Jackie (Susan Surandon).
Jackie does everything she can to undermine the kids relationship with Isabel short of coming out and telling them to hate her. But it is implied. When she finds out that her breast cancer has returned she's worried about the kind of mother she's leaving her kids with. It comes down to deciding if she's going to continue to sabotage Isabel or help her to be the best Stepmom she can be.
Surandon is inspirational as the grief stricken mom trying to drink up every blessed moment she has left with her children while leaving them with fond memories of their mother. This film is a roller coaster of emotions: love, jealousy, hate, anger, regret, loss and so much more is portrayed within a few hours.
This is one of my favorite dramatic comedy films starring two of my favorite female lead actresses. It makes me laugh and cry every time I see it. This film is so relevant to today's families showing that children and parents don't have to choose sides and that all members can have an enriched involvement if everyone chooses to give a little, accept one another's uniqueness and realize that life is a rocky road no matter who you love. If you haven't seen it yet I highly recommend you do so and if it's been awhile then definitely revisit it.
Movie Review: Families really can be forever...even stepfamilies...
Summary: 5 Stars
I have waited forever for a fabulous movie such as this where the stepmom is a caring parent who will go through just about anything to make things workout, yet still be witty and stick up for herself. Julia Roberts was at her best. Susan Sarandon was perfect. Whenever you hear the word "stepmom" most think "wicked" should be attached. I am a stepmom and know how painful it can get. We're not all bad step mothers, some of us are stepmoms. This movie was very accurate and showed both sides of the fence. One reviewer said children are not aloud to act this way in real life, HA. This was a very mild case of what true step families go through. These childrens lives are being torn apart and they will stop at nothing to stop their pain. But as the movie shows, it's not because they are bad, and the stepmom isn't bad for falling in love with their dad, and once you see through the pain there really can be peace in the end with true love and understanding. We CAN have a great relationship with one another . Wonderful show, well worth owning. It truly showed the struggle real families go through in a fun, humorous and touching way. I took my stepson to see it. It was our first date. We loved it. He laughed and cried through the whole show.Movie Review: Have your Kleenex ready!
Summary: 5 Stars
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.