User reviews

I'm still wondering why Susan and Julia didn't even get a nomination of the Academy, or the screenplay. This movie is a great movie about jelousy of a mother, that is scared that her children might love someone else as their second mother, and gives such a hard time to that person. And in the other hand, you see that young lady, in love (with the father of those kids), that forgives everything that has been done to her. She was called a bitch a couple of times (the dog scene with Ana, and when she brings the kids at Jackies, and Ana has make up). Was ignored, and even lost her job for those kids. And she forgives all of this, and tryes to like everyone. The world sure would be perfect if everyone would be this way. The problem is that the world has too many Jackies, and not enough Isabels.

If you are someone that likes to cry, and cry. Watch it. Is one of the sweetes movie ever, talking about peoples feelings, fears, and happynes. Great!

This movie has a great cast, but stealing scenes from big timers like Julia Roberts and Susan Sarandon is Jena Malone, as Anna, the young girl who can't accept her father (Ed Phillips) leaving her mother and moving in with a young woman. Anna really is terrible in her tantrums and snubbings and nastiness directed at her stepmom Isabelle (Roberts). But you can see why she would be like that. Almost as nasty is Sarandon's character, who belittles and berates Isabelle. It's a tiny bit disturbing that the Dad essentially side-steps all the drama and doesn't have to deal with it. Particularly since he broke up the family. It's a bit sexist that the women are catty and bitchy. Sometimes the movie is a bit preachy and predictable. But it does try to portray the journey that people in these situations can go through before some sort of harmony is restored.

Stepmom is a wonderful, life-affirming film that benefits from the great direction of Chris Columbus, the beautiful music of John Williams, and a great screenplay.

Ed Harris is great as the father, though his role is smaller. The two children are spot on. But what really drives this film are the portrayals of the mother by Susan Sarandon and the stepmother by Julia Roberts.

This film is about universal truths: Life has its ups and downs. Love has its ups and downs. Some of the strongest familial bonds are forged from needing. And when you really love someone, there is no wrong way to do it.

The story traces the progress between the mom and the stepmom--two women who have to face their fears of a new family dynamic. The mother was there for all the tender moments, all the wounds and all the memories. The stepmom is the "cool" one who knows the lyrics to all the songs and is current with today's fashions. To become a whole family, the mother must overcome her fear of being replaced and the stepmother must overcome her fear of comparison with an irreplaceable mother.

This is a tearjerker. The resolution goes far beyond the daily struggles of a family rent by divorce. Well worth seeing.

I like it for the autumn flavors. For impecable job of Susan Sarandon, for Ed Harris smart manner to build his characters and for the fair portrait of motherhood. A film about family and about love , realistic in surprising manner and proposing a nice, useful message to viewer. A sort of cup of caffe with good dose of cinnamon.

I got Stepmom for Julia Robert's performance, and I expected it to be pretty good. It did not fail me- it exceeded my expectations. This movie is beautiful.

It's the story of a husband and wife with two kids who have fallen out of love, and now the father is getting married to a new, younger woman. The mother of the kids does everything she can to make her children hate this woman who is going to very soon be a permanent part of their life.

Julia Roberts indeed gives a fine performance as the fiancée of Ed Harris, the husband. She steals your heart in every scene she's in as this young woman who is trying so hard to be exactly what those children want and need. And in the end, she's searching for acceptance and love from them as much as they are from her. And then there's Susan Sarandon, giving one of her best performances as the mother of the children who wants nothing more than to remove her children from The younger woman completely. Sarandon's character is horrible- one of the most awful and hateful people in modern movies. She backstabs, she's overly-critical, and for a long time, she finds every chance possible to turn her children against the other woman- yet you cannot help but feel for her. As nasty as she is, you sympathize with this woman who is having to deal with her children being in the care of a younger, inexperienced woman who is living with her ex-husband. It's impossible not to understand her character's mourning and confusion. For the first time in her life, this woman is not the only mother in her children's life.

Don't be surprised if you cry- more than once. It's that good, and that affecting. Truly, this film is one of the better delights of the past few years. Beautiful story, great performances, real emotions- 8/10 stars!

Jay Addison

A classic '90s drama that brings Julia Roberts and Susan Sarandon together in a mother vs. Stepmother issue.

It has a fairly simplistic way of plotting and predictable. The arc of fairly stereotypical characters without great personalities. Although they are not the best interpretations of Sarandon and Roberts, they achieve a nice chemistry that crosses and projects good bonds in the course.

It is not a genius or a work of art nor is it expected to be, it is from those movies to watch as a family and that leaves a cute flavor with a small realistic detail.

I loved this movie! If you are in the mood for a tear jerker movie, this is the movie too see. Julia Roberts and Susan Sarandon are remarkable together. This is the absolute best I have seen Julia Roberts act and this movie defiantly brings out her talent. Susan Sarandon can make any movie good. But she delivers outstanding effort to make her character relate to other women who have had the problems that Susan's character faces. This movie is of course a 10 out of 10! Julia Roberts and Susan Sarandon will make you laugh now and then, but they will also make you cry with the difficulties that they face together on screen. Stepmom is a movie you'll enjoy and "always always" remember as a movie that filled your heart. So if you haven't seen Stepmom yet...go and see it! You'll be glad that you did.

I can never tire of this movie, it's magical - that's for sure. They just don't make them like this anymore. It's deserves a much higher rating on here

A beautiful, yet somewhat heartbreaking story about a stepmother whom is struggling with the new world of being a mother while trying to keep up with her promising career. Not without difficulty.

Whenever I watch this movie I get stuck, it totally gets me under its' spell and I find myself admiring the good acting, the casting that makes this movie what it is and the storyline. It's one of the best movies I have ever watched and I can assure you that tears will fall if you're into romantic, feel good-movies :')

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 ... !

Overall not a bad movie. Harris, Sarandon and Roberts provide the spark to this 'Terms of Endearment' wannabe. Why Sarandon's character had to travel to Los Angeles from New York to get better medical treatment is a bit far-fetched. Whatever! The kids are good too, not precious and bratty as is often the case.

In this maudlin, melodramatic fantasy, we have five main characters: The stepmom Julia Roberts), the mom (Susan Sarandon), the dad (Ed Harris), and two kids. The stepmother's role is the only one of the male roles to emerge faintly from one dimension, to resemble a live person. The mom is a controlling, spiteful, know-it-all, who also somehow manages to muster immense, flawless tenderness with her kids. The dad is just good. The daughter resembles a person; the son, some narcissist's self-image of himself in childhood, remarkably charming and good-natured. As I watched it, I figured, "This was written by someone with a godawful, but dead, obsessive-compulsive mother to whom he was overly close in childhood, whom he feels bad about hating now, especially since he likes his stepmom so much." The performances are excellent, but the characters are so incredible that this is more cartoon than drama. Some parts were so predictable and mawkish I just fastforwarded through them.

A sweet and honest movie. It's definitely a family film. I liked the relationship of having to fill someone's shoes in a sense, because people are so attached to them. Sarandon was awesome of course. She carried her part with grace and the feral intensity of a mama bear. Nothing got over on her and I liked that because she wasn't going to be around much longer. It wasn't about sizing up the competition, but making sure she was the right person her kids could grow up with instead of her. It was heartfelt and real. Great film.

I'm a big fan of Chris Columbus movies. I've seen Home alone & Harry potter 1 & 2. They were all pretty good ! Most of Chris movies are my favorite.

Susan Sarandon and Juila Roberts gave us a wonderful time in the movie. Liam Akien was cute to be a son of Susan. It's contains loves , family , Joy & sadness. When I watch this movie, I almost cry every minute. The one thing made me unpleasant was the picture so long. It could have been shorter. Enjoy watching Stepmom with your family ! Thank you very much Chris Columbus ! 6/10

As a Comedy, it stunk. It had only a couple of funny moments that were shown in the trailers - no other funny parts...

In actuality, it is a tear jerker. I don't know why they classify it as Comedy or why the trailers gave the impression of a Comedy. As a real stepmom, myself, I was hoping to see a lighter-side comedy about relationships that can be difficult and sometimes pretty tough and even heartbreaking; instead, it was about a relationship that was forced/forged through tragedy - not much to laugh about in the tragic second half of the movie.

That being said, it was well written and well executed and as a Drama it was really good. The acting was superb and the writing was excellent. I was disappointed because I had been in the mood for a Comedy when I watched it.

I think Susan Sarandon and Julia Roberts work so well together to make this a lovely, heart warming story. I loved every minute of it. I love the bit at the end where Anna says goodbye to her mum because it shows the relationship between mother and daughter beautifully which always makes me cry and think how I'll have to start appreciating my mum more!! Julia Roberts is my favourite actress and I have always wanted to see her and Susan Sarandon working together. Susan Sarandon's film Thelma and Louise reminds me of this film, two women facing dificulties and hardship to come out on top stronger and together.

It is hard to believe that this film is 15 years old now: it is as fresh and refreshing as the year it was made. Much of that is due to the story that tends to be a bit Hallmarky (written by Gigi Levangle and manipulated for the screen by Jessie Nelson, Steven Rogers, Karen Leigh Hopkins and Ronald Bass) but with Chris Columbus' direction and a cast of incredibly talented actors is really works.

Anna (Jena Malone) and Ben (Liam Aiken), the two children of Jackie (Susan Sarandon) and Luke (Ed Harris) Harrison, have to cope with the fact that their parents divorced and that there is a new woman in their father's life: Isabel (Julia Roberts), 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.

The lightness of the film is highlighted with some very entertaining Karaoke takes on popular music as performed by mom and the kids and by a little Thanksgiving talent show. But over and above the cutesy schmaltz are a lot of well shaped statements about life and death and family. It remains a very fine movie.

Grady Harp

I saw this after getting a leukemia diagnosis..watched it alone in a hotel room..I had a son and daughter...my son used to say the same things to me...great set-up for tears right?? Don't understand the ease with which Luke is able to just dump his family for Isabelle who doesn't seem to have any clothes other than leather or a burgundy sweater set...sorry these folks don't exist in real life. Why marry Luke Isabelle?? He has a young son but just "falls" out of love with his wife and leaves them?? I cry bullshit. Luke's answers are so maniacally 1 dimensional it frustrated me....and she is supposed to be some great photographer but is just willing to give up her career? Did anyone think the daughter was such a brat because Mom had issues when life focused on someone other than her?

Too many questions, pretty house - pretty topical stuff but too many selfish adults in one movie to make any sense.

Chris Columbus directed 'Stepmom' is a winner all the way... a true 1998 Classic! The film is highly entertaining, in fact there is hardly a moment when you feel bored in this 123 minute-film. Columbus has made superb films, and 'Stepmom' ranks as his best.

The film has a beautiful story, a story about a divorced couple, their children and the Stepmom. The film explains the worth of a family... it surely leaves a great moral behind. The climax is superb, it gets you moist-eyed.

Performance-wise: Ed Harris is Incredible, as ever. He steals the show in a small, but significant role. Julia Roberts is fantastic as the Stepmom. Susan Sarandon needs to mentioning, she's a class apart. Liam Aiken & Jena Malone, the kids, stand out.

On the whole 'Stepmom' is a must watch for each and every cine-lover.

Although I usually don't like to put films (or anything else) into neat little categories, Hollywood was pretty clearly aiming at the female demographic with this one. Of course, there's nothing wrong with this, since movies are targeted as a matter of course... who do you think goes to see "Spiderman" or "Terminator 2?"

The movie is effective at tearjerking, and (as usual) emotions are somewhat manipulated here... again, nothing any more wrong with it than triggering an adrenaline rush when Yoda stands up and waves his lightsabre. Many times, people go to movies to feel emotions and to get a cathartic release. I did find myself teary-eyed at the appropriate moments... the film has high production values and good acting, and I allowed myself to get involved in this one.

I agree with previous viewers that Susan Sarandon's character is mostly annoying (although with occasional moments of brilliance). I'm pretty sure this is both intentional and scripted to be that way. I like Sarandon, and especially in the film "Dead Man Walking" (I thought she was superb). The script of "Stepmom" is very mainstream Hollywood, but not in a "bad way." It's certainly better than a soap opera (which gives nobody catharsis, only voyeuristic addiction to phony stories).

Overall, an entertaining family film in the genre of others like "Ordinary People," "Table For Five" and others. The DVD transfer is (to my eyes and ears) excellent, razor sharp with good color and definition and sounds great. 7/10, a definite rental if you enjoy movies like this.

I understand they're going for weeper here, but come on. You get the impression that they'll throw in anything just to make the audience cry. "That tearful farewell speech didn't get to you? Really? Hmmm...let's see. We could shoot that puppy Julia Roberts got the kids at the beginning of the movie, would that do it for you?" I think the film would have been much stronger had they not pushed the proverbial hanky quite so far. Which is a shame, because this movie had potential, but the sentimentality gets pushed to the ridiculous, and ruins any credibility it had with me.