Stepmom

Starring: Julia Roberts, Susan Sarandon, Ed Harris, Jena Malone, Liam Aiken, Lynn Whitfield, Andre B. Blake, David Zayas
Directed by: Chris Columbus
Rating: PG-13
Genre: Comedy, Drama
1998

Times Seen:
Tim: 1

Summary: A young woman (Julia Roberts) struggles to connect with her boyfriend's (Ed Harris) two kids as she feels she can never compare to their mother (Susan Sarandon).

Review:

Tim: Stepmom is a good movie. It might be a bit weepy and certainly aims for the center of the heart, but I thought it was a heartwarming movie that tackled some complex human relationships. It features a great casting giving strong performances. There might have been a few too many weak spots in the script, but this is still a solid, entertaining movie.

I really liked how this film approached the subject matter. We're introduced to Julia Roberts' character- and she is complex. She is easily overwhelmed by being thrust into a parental role for children to which she didn't give birth. She's artistic and fun, edgy, successful. But she's scattered, prone to mistakes. It really required a layered performance and Roberts delivered. We like her, even as she makes obvious mistakes. She's not a perfect mom, but she tries really hard. It's a really good performance. Susan Sarandon likewise delivers an excellent performance. She is fiercely protective of her kids, but this sometimes leads her to be mean and petty. Her character undergoes a significant transition throughout the movie. Sarandon remarkably makes this feel natural and believable. She achieves this through great subtle shifts in her performance. Sarandon and Roberts are excellent together. It was so fun to see two great actresses acting opposite each other with meaty roles. The highlight is probably the scene at the end over a drink, but these two make the movie worthwhile.

I really love Ed Harris and he worked well here. He doesn't get enough screen time, but he uses every minute that he has effectively. This was an issue with the script- I understand he has a challenging job, but the amount of time he spends with his kids verses his girlfriend doesn't make a lot of sense. That might have been a requirement to tell the story the movie wanted to tell, but it's a little too convenient and obvious. Still, although Harris isn't given a big enough role, he was so strong in his performance. I also enjoyed seeing a young Jena Malone delivering a solid turn as well. Liam Aiken was okay, although I never really enjoyed his performance. He's a cute kid, but his performance was almost too cute, his mugging for the camera just a bit too smug. As a whole, though, the film did well in casting the five people who make up this unconventional family.

The film might be a tad long at 2 hours, 5 minutes, but director Chris Columbus keeps the film moving, so it never feels like it drags too much. There's a lot that happens in this film, although it's all kept firmly grounded in reality. I liked this approach. It feels authentic to the human experience, not some glitzy Hollywood version of it. The film is actually emotional, as it does such a good job of establishing these characters that you grow to care about them and become invested in what happens to them. There are some legitimately sad moments towards the end.

As much as I enjoyed this film, I did have some issues with it. As mentioned, Harris' character felt underplayed and his role in the family was minimized in a way that didn't feel believable. There's a few moments that feel a bit too saccharine. One scene I despised was when Harris goes to meet Sarandon because she wanted to talk to him. Then, he shares his news first and when he asks Sarandon what she wanted to talk about, she says, "Oh, nothing" and then the scene ends. I hate when movies do this. First off, if a woman asks a guy she is or had been in a relationship with to a restaurant to talk, no one would show up and share their news first. They'd be wondering, "What does she want to talk to me about?" and then, even if they shared their news first, when the other person said, "Oh, nothing" that would never fly. Wait a minute, you asked me to come all the way out here, get a drink and talk. And now that I'm here, you have nothing to say? It's the kind of scene that happens with lazy writing but would never, ever happen in real life.

Stepmom is a worthwhile movie. It features some great actors and it tackles a subject that is complex. You're dealing with divorce involving children, death, stepparents. These are some of the more thorny issues in modern relationships and this movie addressed them with a mature lens on. I enjoyed this movie.

Rating 1-10
Tim's Rating: 7



If You Enjoyed This Movie, We Recommend: Mona Lisa Smile, Runaway Bride, The Big Wedding