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In Her Shoes
Directed by: Curtis Hanson
Starring: Toni Collette
Genre:
Comedy/Drama
Run Time: 130
min.
Release Date:
October 2005
On The Web:
Official
Site
Teaser:
Movie Trailer
Reviewed by
Byron Merritt |
For those who've read any
of my previous film reviews, you probably know that dysfunctional family
stories aren't my favorite genre. They tend to be too psychologically
dark if not downright depressing (THE SQUID AND THE WHALE is a
prime example). I don't mind dark themes; in fact, I enjoy them, but
they need to have more substance than just dark qualities. There needs
to be character studies that go deep and delve into people as a whole,
not just their black side. And that's why IN HER SHOES works...
Some might see this as a chick flick, but it isn't. Although all of the
prime players are women, they just as easily could've been men (brothers
and a grandfather). But here, it just happens to be strong female leads
that pull us into the story. The premise is simple: two grown-up sisters
(played by Toni Collette and Cameron Diaz) are at odds with each other.
One is a responsible attorney while the other remains a sexy playgirl,
and a damaging evening involving one of their boyfriends rips them
apart. But as time goes by, both learn that being the "other" sister
isn't such a bad thing; they are both equal parts of the other, and this
comes into focus when they learn the truth about their mother's death
and discover that they still have a living grandmother (the excellent
Shirley MacLain).
Tears and laughter are mixed throughout the film as we learn more and
more about this wily family and how one sister's shoes (both
figuratively and literally) might well fit the other ...and vice versa.
The title of the movie is absolutely perfect in that we see early on
Toni Collette's character's affinity for footwear and how the sisters
fight over shoes and life, and how sometimes life doesn't always
nuzzle-up to us in a comfortable way but shoes (family/sisters) always
do.
This is an excellent film to cozy up with next to your favorite (or
embittered) sibling and take a voyage of discovery down Family Lane.
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Image from In Her Shoes
DVD cost: $15.99
Purchase:
BestPrices.com
Film Review Stew
Favorite? No.
Stew Poo-Poo? No.
Newsworthy:
Jennifer Weiner (the
author) and her agent appear walking behind Toni Collette and her friend
"Amy" in the Italian Market scene.
Movie Quote: "Shoes
like these should not be locked in a closet. They should be living a
life."
Other Actors/Actresses
from In Her Shoes
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