You don't have to be a genius to figure out what happens in this well-crafted TV movie. The clue is in the transparent title - Her Best Friend's Husband. In this case, Cheryl Ladd is the widower who falls for best friend's husband, Moses. The scenario is complicated by the fact Moses's wife, played by Armstrong, is suffering a mid-life crisis and starts divorce proceedings against her husband. This opens the door for Ladd. What follows is a carefully constructed, unsensational story that in spite of its soap-opera dialog, is very watchable and entertaining. Armstrong gives a strong performance as the wronged wife but her character is too cold to elicit our sympathy, whereas Ladd's character has enough emotional solidity to steal the core of the film from the married couple. Moses gives an adequate performance but the script doesn't require him to do much. The open-ended ending was a surprise but looking back it was the best way to finish up the loose ends.
15 Reviews
About what you'd expect
Jackbv1236 January 2018
In terms of story, everyone is wrong here, except maybe the daughter. Mandy - where did she get the idea that she wanted out? Jane - she was part of that family. You don't do that to family, not to your best friend, not to her mom, not to her daughter who is like a daughter to you. But people seldom do what is right full across the board. People do what pleases them most at the time. Sometimes they also repent. Sometimes they forgive.
The main actors feel like they are trying to hard. They feel like they are acting. Like they bear down on each line. Strangely, relative newcomer Lindy Booth seems the most natural.
The story is pure hype, pure sensational, dare a say pure cliché.
The main actors feel like they are trying to hard. They feel like they are acting. Like they bear down on each line. Strangely, relative newcomer Lindy Booth seems the most natural.
The story is pure hype, pure sensational, dare a say pure cliché.
Nothing worthwhile
jamiecostelo589 November 2006
The title of this rather tired film should be called I'm In Love With My Best Friend's Husband! Such a simple plot seen in countless other films etc, I can't help but think to myself why time and effort was wasted in making this. As a fan of Cheryl Ladd, she proves herself a worthwhile actress. However, it's Bess Armstrong who steals the show. Her reaction at finding out her friend's betrayal seems very true-to-life; her marriage may have been on the rocks, but it's still a shock to discover that he is involved with a person extremely close to you. Had it had been someone unknown to her, this movie would simply not exist!
My Best Friend's Husband could be factual in that sense, but the plot is certainly nothing new. In a nutshell, this film is one cliché after another, but viewers might be able to feel the emotion and anger towards the characters, and that is what makes it a little more interesting. 4/10
My Best Friend's Husband could be factual in that sense, but the plot is certainly nothing new. In a nutshell, this film is one cliché after another, but viewers might be able to feel the emotion and anger towards the characters, and that is what makes it a little more interesting. 4/10
Soapy but not too bad...
Yabahonda25 June 2003
Whether intended or not, this movie seems to have some deeper levels. The predicament of the heroine naturally attracted to her "best friend's" discarded husband, the Oedepian (spelling?) reaction of the young daughter and the self centered and self seeking wife looking for herself... all made interesting viewing on different levels.... not the worst way to spend a couple of hours...
I hated this movie - unrealistic and too many logic errors
g.hazel4 January 2009
Warning: Spoilers
A wife is suffering because she is nearly an empty nester. She refuses to tell her husband word one until "I want a divorce". Nice. The best friend tries to help her out, and gets the "go away -- no come back" treatment. The husband doesn't even TRY to make it work. And nobody has answers for the daughter "It's complicated" -- hey, I'm adult, not a 5 yr old -- how about you explain it to me, OK? And then, the best friend somehow falls in love with the husband? She could do better. And she should! Hello, it's your BEST FRIEND's HUSBAND.
Oh, yeah. And him "Uh, you didn't return any of my calls. Did you get them?" - hey idiot, here's 100 dollars, buy a clue. No return calls = I don't want to talk to you.
Ugh...I can watch most of what LMN puts on when the wife has the remote but I walked out on this unrealistic debacle.
Oh, yeah. And him "Uh, you didn't return any of my calls. Did you get them?" - hey idiot, here's 100 dollars, buy a clue. No return calls = I don't want to talk to you.
Ugh...I can watch most of what LMN puts on when the wife has the remote but I walked out on this unrealistic debacle.
In good times, and bad times...I'll sleep with your man forever more. THAT'S what friends are for.
bkriger18 February 2004
Absolutely nothing says, "I'm your BEST friend.", like sleeping with said friend's estranged husband.
It's a scary feeling knowing that this movie is being beamed out via satellite and other civilizations may honestly think that we're the imbeciles that most Lifetime movies portray us to be. I have to go, my best friend's husband is here to pick me up for our romantic weekend in Bali.
It's a scary feeling knowing that this movie is being beamed out via satellite and other civilizations may honestly think that we're the imbeciles that most Lifetime movies portray us to be. I have to go, my best friend's husband is here to pick me up for our romantic weekend in Bali.
The Trials and Tribulations of Lonely Women
lavatch30 April 2020
Warning: Spoilers
Jane Thornton is a widow, and Will Roberts is married to Jane's best friend Mandy, who has had her fill of Will and is seeking a divorce. But Jane and Will find that they just can't keep their paws off one another.
First it was a hug after a tennis match that was a little too intimate. Then, it was a kiss on the lips at the airport security checkpoint. Then, it was protracted staring at each other at a party. Then, Jane invited Will for cheeseburgers at hotel, but he wanted more, then knocked on the door to her room and spent the night. Then, it was a getaway at the Pine Tree Inn up north. And, finally, they were BUSTED by young Kelly, the daughter of Mandy and Will.
"Her Best Friend's Husband" is a sappy soaper filled with smarmy shenanigans. The weak link in the film was the character of Mandy, who was apparently going through a midlife crisis in her thirties. She was so mean to Will and unable to provide any explanation of why she wanted a separation that one was led to believe that she needed therapy.
Then, when Jane and Will begin their affair and Mandy learns of it, she has jealous meltdown for the ages. The best scene in the film is the catfight between Mandy and Jane. The most apt line is when Jane calls Mandy "self-centered and narcissistic." No words ring truer than those in a film that is far-fetched, yet still has a semblance of believable and all-too-human frailty.
First it was a hug after a tennis match that was a little too intimate. Then, it was a kiss on the lips at the airport security checkpoint. Then, it was protracted staring at each other at a party. Then, Jane invited Will for cheeseburgers at hotel, but he wanted more, then knocked on the door to her room and spent the night. Then, it was a getaway at the Pine Tree Inn up north. And, finally, they were BUSTED by young Kelly, the daughter of Mandy and Will.
"Her Best Friend's Husband" is a sappy soaper filled with smarmy shenanigans. The weak link in the film was the character of Mandy, who was apparently going through a midlife crisis in her thirties. She was so mean to Will and unable to provide any explanation of why she wanted a separation that one was led to believe that she needed therapy.
Then, when Jane and Will begin their affair and Mandy learns of it, she has jealous meltdown for the ages. The best scene in the film is the catfight between Mandy and Jane. The most apt line is when Jane calls Mandy "self-centered and narcissistic." No words ring truer than those in a film that is far-fetched, yet still has a semblance of believable and all-too-human frailty.
An Emotional Triangle
Uriah4326 December 2021
Still not over the death of her husband a couple of years earlier, a widow by the name of "Jane Thornton" (Cheryl Ladd) takes a flight from New York to attend a surprise birthday party for her best friend "Mandy Roberts" (Bess Armstrong) in Seattle. Naturally, Mandy is delighted to see her best friend but later turns the tables on Jane by confiding that she is terribly unhappy in her marriage and is going to file for divorce from her husband, "Will Roberts" (William R. Moses) in the near future. This unexpected news not only shocks Jane, but it completely devastates Will who realized Mandy had been rather cold and aloof lately but never suspected how unhappy she really was. Be that as it may, as Will drives her to the airport for her return flight back to New York, she is taken by complete surprise when Will reaches out and kisses her in an extremely passionate manner. But it's only when she returns to Seattle several months later that she discovers that Will isn't the only one starved for affection. Now, rather than reveal any more, I will just say that this turned out to be a better romantic-drama than I initially expected with both Cheryl Ladd and Bess Armstrong performing quite well in their respective roles. Admittedly, the made-for-television format may have lessened the overall impact but even so I enjoyed this film for the most part and I have rated it accordingly. Slightly above average.
Another side of this sort of story...
bhakta_allison3 November 2008
This is one of the first LMN movies I really liked and felt could have happened in real life.
I do not agree how Ms. Ladd's character was the villain or a bad friend to Amanda. For one thing, the wife no longer wanted her husband. Does anyone forget how horrible she acted on her birthday party after her husband gave her a nice gift of jewelry and how she was so quick to go onto a fast life without her family? The daughter quickly forgot how it was her mother's FRIEND who got her boyfriend-in-the-band on the charts when he seemed like a pretty greasy guy with no talent.
The movie does serve as a lesson. It is never advisable to go out with a friend's ex. Also, a woman should really think before throwing away a good husband. Good men are hard to find. Amanda is like a lot of women who will tell a decent guy to get lost and then expect them to pine for them. Life goes on. It is fairly normal for a separated or divorced man to move on a lot quicker than the ex-wives want and it is usually with someone they know rather than a stranger. I loved the slap scene!
I do not agree how Ms. Ladd's character was the villain or a bad friend to Amanda. For one thing, the wife no longer wanted her husband. Does anyone forget how horrible she acted on her birthday party after her husband gave her a nice gift of jewelry and how she was so quick to go onto a fast life without her family? The daughter quickly forgot how it was her mother's FRIEND who got her boyfriend-in-the-band on the charts when he seemed like a pretty greasy guy with no talent.
The movie does serve as a lesson. It is never advisable to go out with a friend's ex. Also, a woman should really think before throwing away a good husband. Good men are hard to find. Amanda is like a lot of women who will tell a decent guy to get lost and then expect them to pine for them. Life goes on. It is fairly normal for a separated or divorced man to move on a lot quicker than the ex-wives want and it is usually with someone they know rather than a stranger. I loved the slap scene!
Better than Average TV Movie
RileyHawk12 March 2002
This made for tv-movie tells the story of best friends Mandy Roberts (Bess Armstrong) and Jane Thornten (Cheryl Ladd) who find themselves at a crossroads. Mandy is the stifled wife of Will (William R. Moses) and mother to college student daughter, Kelly (Lindy Booth), but she longs to be more. When Mandy gets the nerve to ask for a divorce and open her own business she asks Jane for support. The widowed Jane obliges begrudgingly, but feels for the wounded Will and Kelly. Naturally (and predictably) Will and Jane fall in love. How will Mandy react? Will Jane's conscience let her love Will? What will Kelly do when she finds out? We know the answers already, but it's still fun to watch. A standout in this cast is up-and-coming Canadian actress Lindy Booth as Kelly. She is a joy to watch in anything, but it is especially exciting to see her featured so prominently here.
Lifetime has done a hundred of these
vchimpanzee11 April 2006
Jane is a busy New York attorney who did not have time to come to the funeral when her best friend Mandy lost her father. But for Mandy's birthday, she is flying to Seattle and taking some time off.
Mandy is not happy. She never sees her architect husband Will except when they are in bed. She wants a divorce. And she wants to start her own design business, to be located in a building owned by furniture designer Elliott. Mandy also thinks that two years after Peter died, Jane needs to start dating again, and Jane and Elliott seem to get along.
Mandy and Will have a daughter Kelly who is in college and dating Sam, a rock musician. Kelly doesn't think her parents will approve. Jane has connections that might help Sam's career.
From the movie's title, you can probably guess what will happen. I won't give too much away, but I will say characters have mature reactions to the events that take place ... eventually. They set examples for people who might behave otherwise in the real world, because situations like this happen all the time.
Lindy Booth was absolutely adorable as Kelly. I hated to see her sad, but Booth handled both perky and depressed well.
Cheryl Ladd looks cute with short hair. And, at least when this movie was made, she had nice legs for tennis and ... other activities.
Bess Armstrong wasn't much to look at and all her character seemed to do was complain, and yet I didn't find her unpleasant. It has been a lot of years since she was so cute in "On Our Own", and I would say she looks her age. But she must have done a good job with this role, because a guy should automatically run and hide on hearing the first words in this paragraph.
If you cry during movies, make sure to stock an ample supply of Kleenex.
Mandy is not happy. She never sees her architect husband Will except when they are in bed. She wants a divorce. And she wants to start her own design business, to be located in a building owned by furniture designer Elliott. Mandy also thinks that two years after Peter died, Jane needs to start dating again, and Jane and Elliott seem to get along.
Mandy and Will have a daughter Kelly who is in college and dating Sam, a rock musician. Kelly doesn't think her parents will approve. Jane has connections that might help Sam's career.
From the movie's title, you can probably guess what will happen. I won't give too much away, but I will say characters have mature reactions to the events that take place ... eventually. They set examples for people who might behave otherwise in the real world, because situations like this happen all the time.
Lindy Booth was absolutely adorable as Kelly. I hated to see her sad, but Booth handled both perky and depressed well.
Cheryl Ladd looks cute with short hair. And, at least when this movie was made, she had nice legs for tennis and ... other activities.
Bess Armstrong wasn't much to look at and all her character seemed to do was complain, and yet I didn't find her unpleasant. It has been a lot of years since she was so cute in "On Our Own", and I would say she looks her age. But she must have done a good job with this role, because a guy should automatically run and hide on hearing the first words in this paragraph.
If you cry during movies, make sure to stock an ample supply of Kleenex.
Great Billy Moses film!!!
selwitelsd3 July 2002
I'm a big fan of Billy Moses who played the role of Will Roberts in this film. He did an excellent job in the role of the lost and confused husband. I think all the actors and actresses did a really fine job and the chemistry between Moses and Ladd was incredible! The script was well written as well. Thumbs up to this one! I give it 4 stars!
Yes!
PaigeSG111 March 2002
I was very excited about seeing commercials for this movie because amongst all the repeats, it was refreshing to see a new movie on cable. Being on Lifetime I also thought I would have to bring the kleenex. In the end it wasn't that bad of a movie.
In the beginning you can see the wife/ex-wife distancing herself from the husband and one might think she's having an affair, but she's just really "re-evalutating" her life, blah blah blah. So now the husband is confused and here comes the best friend. This movie is predictable and the actors/actresses in it did a really good job. Cheryl Ladd, Bess Armstrong, Lindy Booth, and William R. Moses were all well chosen for the parts. Cheryl Ladd and William R. Moses are 2 of my favorite actors.
However, the movie soon started dragging on and on and I found that the only good roll was the boyfriend of the daughter who didn't have that many speaking parts. Watch this movie for yourself. I would have liked it if there was some more fighting like from that imfamous scene from the soap opera "Dynasty". Yea, note the "nasty" in there. Anyway, watch this movie. You might like it. I give is 3 our of 5 stars.
Just watch this and form your own opinion. It's not as cheesey as most of the movies on Lifetime. Give it a chance. If you don't like it, that's okay. If you like it, that's cool!
In the beginning you can see the wife/ex-wife distancing herself from the husband and one might think she's having an affair, but she's just really "re-evalutating" her life, blah blah blah. So now the husband is confused and here comes the best friend. This movie is predictable and the actors/actresses in it did a really good job. Cheryl Ladd, Bess Armstrong, Lindy Booth, and William R. Moses were all well chosen for the parts. Cheryl Ladd and William R. Moses are 2 of my favorite actors.
However, the movie soon started dragging on and on and I found that the only good roll was the boyfriend of the daughter who didn't have that many speaking parts. Watch this movie for yourself. I would have liked it if there was some more fighting like from that imfamous scene from the soap opera "Dynasty". Yea, note the "nasty" in there. Anyway, watch this movie. You might like it. I give is 3 our of 5 stars.
Just watch this and form your own opinion. It's not as cheesey as most of the movies on Lifetime. Give it a chance. If you don't like it, that's okay. If you like it, that's cool!
Excellent Movie...
horsehungtop48 May 2006
The movie was excellent! However, It should have been titled: My Best Friend's Husband. I thought Cheryl Ladd was an excellent actress and William R. Moses was an excellent actor. It was great that the setting was in Seattle, Washington. Seeing Space Needle brought back the kid in me and would have wanted to go to the top to see the world. I really hated that the fact that Cheryl Ladd slapped Bess Armstrong across the face, knowing the fact, she should have felt guilty for sleeping with her best friend! It should have been an Alexis and Krystle cat fight Dynasty since Bess Amstrong was slapped! That would have been really cool. Overall Grade: A
See also
Awards | FAQ | User Ratings | External Reviews | Metacritic Reviews
