Stepmom

Plot

A terminally-ill mother has to settle on the new woman in her ex-husband's life, who will be their new stepmother.

Release Year: 1998

Rating: 6.2/10 (23,657 voted)

Critic's Score: 58/100

Director:
Chris Columbus

Stars: Julia Roberts, Susan Sarandon, Ed Harris

Storyline
Anna and Ben, the two children of Jackie and Luke, have to cope with the fact that their parents divorced and that there is a new woman in their father's life: Isabel, a successful photographer. She does her best to treat the kids in a way that makes them still feel at home when being with their dad, but also loves her work and does not plan to give it up. But Jackie, a full-time mother, regards Isabel's efforts as offensively insufficient. She can't understand that work can be important to her as well as the kids. The conflict between them is deepened by the sudden diagnose of cancer, which might may be deadly for Jackie. They all have to learn a little in order to grow together.

Writers: Gigi Levangie, Gigi Levangie

Cast:

Julia Roberts
–

Isabel Kelly

Susan Sarandon
–

Jackie Harrison

Ed Harris
–

Luke Harrison

Jena Malone
–

Anna Harrison

Liam Aiken
–

Ben Harrison

Lynn Whitfield
–

Dr. P. Sweikert

Darrell Larson
–

Duncan Samuels

Mary Louise Wilson
–

Mrs. Franklin

Andre B. Blake
–

Cooper

(as Andre Blake)

Herbert Russell
–

Photo Assistant

(as Russel Harper)

Jack Eagle
–

Craft Service Man

Lu Celania Sierra
–

Photo Shoot Model

Lauma Zemzare
–

Photo Shoot Model

Holly Schenck
–

Photo Shoot Model

Michelle Stone
–

Photo Shoot Model

Taglines:
Be there for the joy. Be there for the tears. Be there for each other.

Details

Official Website:
Sony Pictures |

Release Date: 25 December 1998

Filming Locations: Bedford, New York, USA

Box Office Details

Budget: $50,000,000

(estimated)

Opening Weekend: $19,142,440
(USA)
(27 December 1998)
(2358 Screens)

Gross: $159,710,793
(Worldwide)

Technical Specs

Runtime:

124 min

Did You Know?

Trivia:

Rejected titles include "Goodnight Moon," "Promises Kept," "See You in My Dreams" and "Always, Always".

Goofs:

Continuity:
On Christmas morning when Ben leans forward to hug his mother, the edge of his cape hangs down and points backward to his feet. Jackie's and Ben's shoulders are clearly visible. Change of camera shot. We see Anna walk in and then the camera goes back to Jackie & Ben. Now the cape has been artfully draped over mother and son. All shoulders are hidden.

Quotes:

[Jackie is smoking marijuana]

Jackie Harrison:
Yep. Life's a tradeoff. It's finally legal to smoke dope, but you got to have cancer.

Isabel:
Are you dying?

Jackie Harrison:
Not today.

User Review

delightful & heart warming …

Rating: 10/10

Stepmom is one of the most delightful movies in recent times … ! It's a
touching tale of maternal love that doesn't fail to move you no matter how
many times you see it. It's a gem !

Stepmom tells you the story of an American marriage that loses its spark
with time and the man seeks love outside of it. This sensitive film deals
with how the family handles the delicate situation — at times, holding out
bravely … and at other times, buckling under the emotional trauma ! The
other woman, very ably portrayed by Julia Roberts, is a genuinely good human
being who tries to bond with her lovers' kids inspite of their mother's (and
their own) initial bitterness towards her. The plot thickens when the mother
of the kids, portrayed with finesse by Susan Sarandon, is found to have
cancer. The mother's days in the world are now numbered and the family must
learn to carry on without her … ! Stepmom now paints a warm and endearing
picture of how the members of this family reconcile their differences and
stand united and strong in the face of this crisis.

It would be UNFAIR if I rated this one anything less than 9 … !