Customer Reviews

How Stella Got Her Groove Back [VHS]

5 star:		(45)
4 star:		(13)
3 star:		(8)
2 star:		(14)
1 star:		(6)

 

 

Terry McMillan's followup to "Waiting to Exhale," "How Stella Got Her Groove Back," was dismissed by some critics as a fluffy beach romance novel. It definitely had its spunk, but suffered from an overall blah-ness that weighed it down. The movie version has similar problems. Our heroine, played by the fierce talent that is Angela Bassett, is a broker trying to balance her career and being a single mom. She, along with her best friend (Whoopi Goldberg), takes a vacation to Jamaica, where she falls for the striking Winston Shakespeare (Taye Diggs, whose Jamaican accent fades in and out throughout his otherwise solid performance). The problem? She's 40. And he's 20. You can pretty much imagine the issues these two have to face, as they decide whether or not to start a "serious" relationship. "How Stella..." is a pleasant movie, despite the often sappy touches that almost mar the film. The love story itself is fairly predictable, although the supporting roles from Suzzane Douglas and the always-dependable Regina King are pretty good. Don't go looking to get blown away by this movie. Like the novel on which it's based, it will pass your time nicely without requiring any deep thought.

Someone just has to say this. When this movie was filmed in '97 (it was released in '98), Angela Bassett was barely 39 and Taye Diggs was almost 26. That is HARDLY the massive, upsetting, life-altering age difference suggested by the script or the novel it was based on. Furthermore, Angela Bassett is one of the most beautiful women in Hollywood (or anywhere for that matter), totally buff, and could probably pass, easily, for 28 or 29.

On the other hand, Taye Diggs, a very handsome guy, is no kid. He's a big guy, and mature looking and acting. I am sure he could have been cast easily in a part for a 30 or 35 year old.

So there is no discernable or meaningful age difference here and that queers the entire premise of the movie! Not to mention, just to confuse things more, Digg's character is shown to be from an affluent, educated family and headed for medical school. His work as a Jamaican "pool boy" is just a summer job.

This renders the whole concept a total cheat. It really would be shocking (and manipulative) if a rich, middle-aged woman from the US took sexual advantage of an uneducated young boy from a third world country. You'd see the sexual exploitation right off. It's so muffled here that we are drowning out any real thoughtfulness with our cries of "you go, girl!"

A sobby subplot (very unbelievable) with Whoppie Goldberg addes nothing to the mix.

It is quite interesting how our culture accepts romances with older men/younger women without so much as a blink, but let a gorgeous fit woman in early middle age have a slightly younger boyfriend, and it's supposed to be a big deal. It isn't. And this movie isn't much of anything.

Try making a movie about the above issue (why it's OK for an old geezer to take a young trophy wife). That might be a challenging flick.

In short: a waste of film, except you get to watch Angela Bassett which is worthwhile anytime.

This movie has a promising start, but falters midway through. Where the book was entertaining and fun, the movie changes the story to insert dramatic subplots that did not exist in the book and make it more of a downer. Also, the picture on the cover promises much more Jamaica than is delivered - the movie does not focus on Jamaica as much as the book did, which minimizes its escapist potential. The casting is excellent and the acting good, and there are many funny parts, but on the whole the movie is simply average. Wait for it to come on TV, but don't spend your money on it. Buy the book instead and take it to the beach.

I was just flipping channels when I happened to run across this movie. I didn't even know what I was watching, but the engaging dialogue held my interest, so I just kept on watching - and I'm glad I did! I really enjoyed this movie about a gorgeous forty year old woman taking up with a friendly, charasmatic guy half her age. Will the relationship last beyond the initial thrill of romace in sunny, exotic Jamaica? Will it work in "real life" - after the vacation is over? These may be somewhat cliched questions, but the clever (and amazingly funny!) writing and excellent acting (with a little help from Whoopie Goldberg as the warm and humorous "best friend") make the whole film a delight to watch! My opinion, ladies? Your husband may not be thrilled, but this is a great flick to watch either alone, or with your girlfriends!

This is not your regular old girl meets boy movie.Angela B. is stunning at any age. Who says an older woman has to be sedate.It is truly a film that you will want to watch more than once.

My trips to Jamaica are re-lived through this movie! Whenever I want to take relax and take a quick vacation, I pop this movie in the VCR and watch the sights of the beautiful country, listen to the adoring Jamaican speech, and listen to the wonderful Carribean crickets. This movie was filmed in Kingston and includes all the wonderful sights and sounds of a beautiful island.

I just saw this movie again this past weekend. Each time I do, I want to hop on the next plane to Jamaica. The shots of the island and Stella's room were wonderful! Angela Bassett's performance as Stella was refreshing. There aren't too many movies which showcase successful, intelligent, and independent African American women. And, of course, Stella's beauty and physique makes 40 worth looking forward to. I didn't think that the chemistry between Winston (Taye Diggs) and Stella was very magical, at least not like in the book, but I thought they made a nice pairing thanks to Bassett's performance. And Diggs' performance in the shower made him a worthwhile addition. The best chemistry was between Bassett and Goldberg. They remind me so much of me and my best friend! And the bickering between the sisters was hilarious. The women, in general, just stand out in this film. A great movie to watch especially when hanging out with the girls.

Angela bassett is a beautiful 40 year old dynamo who has been on the go her entire life. Whoopi is her good friend who goes on a vacation to Jamaica, and Stella meets a 20 year old Winston Shakespeare. They fall in lust, and then feelings become deeper. I would definitely recommend this film to anybody looking for a warm fuzzy feeling.

Angela Bassett in a winning performance since What`s Love Got Do With It. Bassett plays Stella a hard high class working woman in the city and forget something in her heart, how to really live. Her friend Delilah(Whoopi Goldberg in a fine performance) ask Stella to come with in Jamica to new start in life. Stella did change her sense of living meeting a young man half her age, played by Taye Diggs(Go, House on Haunted Hill) in a standout performance. When she falls in love him but everybody telling Stella is wrong to fall in love with a man half her age.

DVD`s has a great flawless widescreen transer and Dolby Digital 5.1 Surround is also great. An very good movie and worth buying to our collection. Grade:A-.

There are movies that tend to cater to one gender over another and are the source of constant coercion, arguing and surrenders for couples. On one side you got guns, explosions, macho lines delivered over the sound of guns and explosions, and on the other hand you get a bunch of women sitting around talking about their feelings and using men as existentialist means to finding themselves.

This movie is of the latter case and in that category it's not a bad movie. Angela Basset goes to Jamaica, picks up a young guy (at least 20 years younger than her) and then spends the rest of the movie alternately enjoying her conquest and being embarrassed by the whole cradle robbing thing.

What's nice about this movie and what distinguishes a good chick movie from a lousy chick movie (or a good movie from a bad movie most of the time) is that there is a real honesty. Angela Bassett's crisis comes from being ambivalent and she plays both roles rather well. Everyone else is looking at her congratulating her on her being able to pick up such a young guy but she knows that they are laughing about the age difference as well. This entire movie is Bassett getting over her reservations about wanting this particular guy and it is nice to see the whole old-young couple gender role reversal.

The rest of the characters are pretty secondary. Whoopie Goldberg is Whoopie Goldberg but she's used well. Taye Diggs is fairly dull as a character. He's almost there exclusively to be understanding. He doesn't have any ambivalence, but since it's not his story, I don't think he's allowed to have any ambivalence. He still comes off as a sympathetic character with a good heart, so he's NOT just a young bimbo for Bassett to pick up - although I think there should be some of that thinking going on in the audience.

Overall, a good movie mostly for Angela Bassett's performance.