Julia Roberts Movie:

				Salesrank: 201965
		Used Price: $24.15
		MPAA Rating: PG-13 (Parental Guidance Suggested) Media: DVD

Editorial Review:
Though Stepmom was dismissed as a contender in the 1998 Oscar race, it's worth giving a second chance to this rather cogent, sharp-tongued look at second chances. Susan Sarandon's performance as a mom about to be replaced by her ex-husband's new girlfriend (played by Julia Roberts) has a lot of bite, and it's a shame the script opted to marginalize and trivialize her plight in its final reel. Initially, the rancor that passes between divorced mom Jackie (Sarandon) and trendy fashion photographer Isabel (Roberts) rings true, aided by the sincerity of Jackie's ex-husband Luke (Ed Harris) and the emotional plight of their children, who have the most to lose in their parents' divorce. As the drama makes clear, the kids are the real victims in the agony that ensues between old and new love.

Director Chris Columbus, who is adept at showing familial chaos (he directed Mrs. Doubtfire and Home Alone) with a sanitized minimum of lingering emotional damage, actually manages to dig a trifle deeper than usual in exploring the jealousy and hurt that occur when the baton is passed between a birth mom and the younger wife who steps into her shoes. Stepmom fortunately manages to touch on that chord--showing how an ambitious woman might feel hampered by the responsibility of children just because she's fallen in love with their dad--as well as the haunting grief that it causes their birth mom. It's an issue that haunts millions of second wives everywhere, and while Roberts conveys the confusion of being taken for granted in the melee that follows, it's Sarandon who walks off with the film. She's relentless in her fury, and everyone else in the film--the generally excellent Harris included--is sideswiped. It's just a shame that Hollywood once again wimps out in the end, solving the problem by giving Sarandon a terminal illness. Instead of allowing Jackie and Isabel's relationship to unfold on something less than a high note, the movie has to quell its best thing with a false payoff because it doesn't know what to do with real life. --Paula Nechak

Stepmom [Region 2] Reviews:
LOVE the house!
2008-09-20 - I watch this movie because I love Ed Harris and his eyes:) and the Victorian House in the woods!! These two things are worth watching the movie for.

Not a wicked stepmom.
2008-07-04 - Stepmom starring Julia Roberts and Susan Sarandon is a funny and moving film directed by Chris Columbus. Ed Harris also stars and jeez isn't he great in every movie?! I like Roberts in this film, she plays her role as a stepmother with humor and heart. Sarandon's character is a bit annoying but hey she's dying of cancer. Sad, sad, sad film, I highly recommend it!

Really Moving Film
2008-07-01 - I just rented this because I was interested in seeing more movies with Julia Roberts, one of my favorite Hollywood actresses. i think she is beautiful and really gets into her parts. "Step Mom" is one of her best films. I'm not really a big Susan Sarandon fan but she was good in this movie. It revolves around the lives of the step mother conflcting with the mother from the previous marriage. The kids in this movie help liven up the movie and unfortunately havent been in any big name future films since. Jackie ends up getting cancer later in the movie which will bring tears to your eyes in some scenes. Isabel (Julia Roberts) is pretty much an artsy photographer who is considered "hip" by Jackie, the mother of the children. They have to put up with Isabel's poor motherhood instincts like accidentally "losing" one of the children in one scene. Later in the movie you grow to like both mothers. Even the father Luke gets likeable later in the movie as his character becomes more real. The cast of the movie is pretty talented. This is one of the better films Julia Roberts has been in. While "The Pelican Brief" is my all-time favorite of hers, "Stepmom" is still worth watching even though it's an older movie. Warning: if you're emotional be sure to bring some tissues with you while watching it. Definately worth the price.

Stepmom
2008-06-13 - I love this movie! Julia Roberts, once again does a fantastic job at making her character vibrant, and very creative. The writer tells the story about a family in and out of crisis- and shows us how that no matter their challenges with each other- their efforts taken to forgive and persue understanding, allows them to connect in a love relationship with one another that was encouraging for my own person life. Thanks.

"Mom, I'll hate her if you want me to."
2007-12-27 - 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.