Stepmom (1998) * *

Directed by:  Chris Columbus

Starring:  Julia Roberts, Susan Sarandon, Ed Harris, Jena Malone, Liam Aiken

Stepmom introduces a complex family dynamic.    Jackie (Sarandon) and Luke (Harris) are a divorced couple that shares custody of their two children.    This is an amicable arrangement under the circumstances, but it becomes shakier as Luke's fiancee Isabel (Roberts) assumes a more active role in supervising the children as Luke is away from home more often.     Isabel's presence is unwelcome for Jackie, daughter Anna (Malone) and Ben (Aiken), creating friction pretty much every time Isabel draws breath in their vicinity.     Jackie believes no adult is better suited to raise her children than her, while the children choose to follow their mom's lead and dislike Isabel on principle. 

If the situation were allowed to be played out to a conclusion without the tear jerking stuff thrown in, then Stepmom could've been a better film.     Instead, a subplot is introduced which forces everything into a different, predictable direction.     The last half of the movie is spent dealing with this development instead of allowing the original idea to naturally progress.     In a way, the subplot lets everyone off the hook. 

Ultimately, Stepmom is not interested in being a real family drama, but a tearjerker.    Tearjerkers are fine, but I'm not so sure Stepmom should've even been one.     Love Story is a perfect example of a tearjerker done right.      You kinda sorta know that Isabel will eventually be accepted into the family fold, but the film makes that acceptance seem like a loose end that needs to be tied up before the running time expires.

I apologize for being vague about the plot point, but I don't wish to spoil it for those who haven't seen the movie yet.    The Sarandon character is a bit harsh at first, so it becomes difficult to fully sympathize with her, but we see and expect her to thaw toward Isabel gradually.    Anna has an annoying habit of absolutely flipping out and abruptly fleeing the room every time she experiences a moment of discomfort.    The other characters have to run after her saying "Anna".   This happens about five times in the movie and I may be low by one or two.     However, Anna comes around too.

I would've enjoyed the performances more and maybe even the characters if I didn't sense the plot creaking.     In a way, they are not really allowed to have their own personalities because everything is dictated by the plot anyway.    There are, of course, very good actors here.   Sarandon and Roberts are Oscar winners and Ed Harris is a multiple Oscar nominee and revered character actor.     It's a shame really that the movie couldn't get out of its own way.     One blessing, is that we are spared a death scene.     I hope that didn't give away too much.