In Her Shoes

Time Out says
On paper, it could be just another
throwaway chick-flick: two very different sisters – one an uptight lawyer, the
other a boozy tart – wrestle with life, love and their relationship with each other. But with
the director of ‘LA Confidential’ at the helm and a solid source novel at its
core (Jennifer Weiner’s bestseller), this achieves a level of sophistication
rarely seen in the genre. ‘Fried Green Tomatoes at the Whistle Stop Café’
strikes one as one of the more recent mainstream examples, and that was 14
years ago. But this is less worthy, packing in dark humour and decidedly flawed
characters alongside the expected moral conclusions.
Maggie (Cameron Diaz) is not only a flirt, but a thief and a liar. Tracking down her estranged grandmother (Shirley MacLaine), she discovers a world of wizened wisecrackers – not to mention amiable elderly men giving her the once over. Life doesn’t end when you get older is the message: in fact, the film implies, your communication skills improve. Female communication is one of the film’s enduring themes, and although some lines verge on the trite, they’re given impact by convincing characters. Toni Collette is particularly able as lawyer Rose, a toned-down, smarter version of the Bridget Jones role she once rejected. Broad physical comedy and a high truism count mean not everyone will love this – those who can’t stomach ‘Sex and the City’ (referenced here) should approach with caution. But considering it doesn’t star Maggie Smith or Judi Dench, it’s surprising how mature and moving this female-focused drama is.
Maggie (Cameron Diaz) is not only a flirt, but a thief and a liar. Tracking down her estranged grandmother (Shirley MacLaine), she discovers a world of wizened wisecrackers – not to mention amiable elderly men giving her the once over. Life doesn’t end when you get older is the message: in fact, the film implies, your communication skills improve. Female communication is one of the film’s enduring themes, and although some lines verge on the trite, they’re given impact by convincing characters. Toni Collette is particularly able as lawyer Rose, a toned-down, smarter version of the Bridget Jones role she once rejected. Broad physical comedy and a high truism count mean not everyone will love this – those who can’t stomach ‘Sex and the City’ (referenced here) should approach with caution. But considering it doesn’t star Maggie Smith or Judi Dench, it’s surprising how mature and moving this female-focused drama is.
Details
Release details
Rated:
12A
Release date:
Friday November 11 2005
Duration:
130 mins
Cast and crew
Director:
Curtis Hanson
Screenwriter:
Susannah Grant
Cast:
Cameron Diaz
Toni Collette
Shirley MacLaine
Mark Feuerstein
Toni Collette
Shirley MacLaine
Mark Feuerstein