Stepmom (1998)

"One of the best films of the year! Wonderful, funny, emotional and uplifting.  NBC-TV
"Uplifting and reaffirming...  Ruthe Stein, San Francisco Chronicle

Editor's Note Jackie (Susan Sarandon) and Luke (Ed Harris) are divorcing after years of marriage and two children, Anna and Ben. Their new stepmother, Isabel (Julia Roberts), wants to be involved in the children's life, but is unwilling to sacrifice anything for her work. Jackie considers this to be selfish and rude, sparking a conflict between the two women. When cancer enters the picture, everyone is forced to grow in order to settle their differences. A tearjerker in the truest sense of the word.

	Jenna Malone
	Julia Roberts
	Liam Aiken
	Lynn Whitfield
	Susan Sarandon
	Ed Harris
	Chris Columbus - Director
	Gigi Levangie - Screenplay

USA Today
"...What is brilliant is the inspired combo of Sarandon's headlight eyes and Roberts' high-beam smile..." 12/24/1998 p.4D

San Francisco Chronicle 8 of 10
I've never been able to figure out why there are so many movies about serial killers and Mafia drug lords but so few about characters in situations that audiences actually might be able to relate to. Take couples going through a divorce and its wrenching aftermath. That's almost half the population, but you'd never know it from the dearth of films on the subject. Stepmom... gets points simply for depicting what it's like to have to reconfigure a family after a divorce. With Julia Roberts in the title role, Susan Sarandon as the mom and Ed Harris as the lucky dog who gets both of them (albeit at different times), this blended family may be more glamorous than most. But their pain and the generosity of spirit they show trying to do the best for their kids seem real. The film shows the sure hand of San Francisco director Chris Columbus, who made divorce seem funny in Mrs. Doubtfire. In Stepmom, he brings a life-threatening illness into the equation. The result is a film that's sad and poignant but not without humorous moments. Sarandon has a facility for playing earth mothers, as she showed in Little Women and Lorenzo's Oil. Her scenes with the child actors are magical; it's as if they really are kin. The surprise is just how good Roberts is. Ridding herself of her cutesy mannerisms, she gives the deepest performance of her career. Stepmom is a perfect holiday picture. It's uplifting and reaffirming about the virtues of all families, including stepfamilies. - Ruthe Stein