Written by Vickie
October 20, 2010
Here at Moviepie, there are several unofficial rules for who reviews what. If it's a Viggo Mortensen flick, Jennifer gets the nod. If Maggie Cheung is at all involved, Linda usually stakes her claim. And if it's a chick flick of just about any kind, I tend to be the one weighing in.
So it is with director Curtis Hanson's adaptation of the Jennifer Weiner novel, which follows the ups (few they may be) and downs (a'plenty) in the relationship between sisters Maggie (Cameron Diaz) and Rose Feller (Toni Collette). Where Maggie is an irresponsible party girl, Rose is a sensible working woman. Where Maggie lives life on the edge, Rose tiptoes through it
carefully and with much planning. But when Maggie goes one step too far by bedding Rose's boyfriend (Richard Burgi), all bets are off and Maggie is cast out of Rose's life. With nowhere to go, she heads out in search of their long-lost maternal grandmother, Ella Hirsch (Shirley MacLaine), and moves into a Florida seniors' residence once she does.
It's odd to think of a movie with thirtysomething protagonists as being a "coming of age" film, but that's what this is. Once separated and left to their own devices, each woman has to change. To grow up. To live outside her comfort zone. Serving as catalysts are Ella (for Maggie) and Simon (Mark Feuerstein), Rose's smitten colleague. The movie is fairly evenly divided between the time the women are together and apart, and both halves of the story work equally well.
Collette and Diaz, despite looking nothing alike, still manage to create a believable relationship and have an ease with each other that comes across onscreen. Even though Diaz is being touted as the film's standout, it's Collette that gives Shoes its heart. And having Shirley MacLaine kickin' around in a retirement home as only Shirley MacLaine can only helps matters.
If there's one criticism to be made it's that there isn't much surprise in the film. It's a fairly straightforward story, without any unexpected complications or conflicts. The ending is a given pretty much from the get-go, and the road to the film's conclusion is neatly paved and pothole-free. A couple of wrenches thrown into the works might have been good. At the same time, they might have derailed the proceedings. Who knows.
This is the ideal movie for a Sunday afternoon with your sister or your mother or your best friend. It won't challenge you, but it'll make you want to hug when it's over.
