Product Details

• Actors: Shirley MacLaine, Bill Paxton, Juliette Lewis, Miranda Richardson, Ben Johnson
• Directors: Robert Harling
• Writers: Robert Harling, Larry McMurtry
• Format: Closed-captioned, Color, NTSC
• Language: English
• Rating: PG-13 (Parental Guidance Suggested)
• Number of tapes: 1
• Studio: Paramount Pictures
• VHS Release Date: October 14, 1997
• Run Time: 129 minutes
• Average Customer Review: 3.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (33 customer reviews)
• ASIN: 6304410433
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #6,604 in Video (See Bestsellers in Video)

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Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com

Picking up the story thread left by 1983's Terms of Endearment, this overwrought sequel is made palatable by Shirley MacLaine's charismatic performance, which in turn is nearly equaled by Marion Ross's role as her housekeeper. An unexpected surprise, Ross obviously was never allowed to display her range as Mrs. Cunningham on Happy Days. Returning as the vibrant Aurora Greenway, MacLaine far outshines the thin material involving the tangled and unhappy lives of her three grandchildren. The plot picks up 13 years after the death of Greenway's daughter (played by Debra Winger in the original). One of the kids is in jail; one is living in poverty. Her granddaughter, played with prickly rebelliousness by Juliette Lewis, is heading for all sorts of trouble. The plot, told in disconnected and maudlin episodic segments, often borders on the absurd. The characters screech and weep, one of them dies, then we watch others screech and weep some more. So why bother? Because it is occasionally quite witty, and MacLaine indeed shines as brightly as the evening star to which she is compared. Both movies were based on novels by Larry McMurtry. --Rochelle O'Gorman

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

12 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars This Star Shines Bright, January 28, 2003

By	J. M. Zuurbier (Canada) - See all my reviews (TOP 1000 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)

This review is from: The Evening Star (DVD)

THE EVENING STAR is the sequel to the highly popular 1983 film TERMS OF ENDEARMENT. The kids are grown up. The eldest son in jail, the youngest son in a dead end job and fathering an illegitemate son with his girlfriend, and a hell bent daughter. Aurora has to deal with all of this, but her friends such as her maid Rosie, help her out. Rosie decides that Aurora is depressed, and tricks her into seeing a psychiatrist, who Aurora eventually falls for. Then there is Patsy, always integrating herself into Aurora's life, being jealous of her taking care of the kids when they were growing up. This feud is well played throughout the movie, with Patsy trying to upstage Aurora at every chance, and vice versa. They both fall for the same man, who is much younger than Aurora, which only causes more friction in their already tumultuous friendship. Life changes though when her grandson gets out of jail and decides to make a life for himself, and Aurora's granddaughter learns to chase her dreams after life's disapointments. The movie centers around these characters and their interpersonal relationships with each other, dealing with conflicts, death, and whatever card fate hands them. Shirley MacLaine shines once again as Aurora Greenway, and the cast is enriched by Juliette Lewis, Bill Paxton, Marion Ross, Miranda Richardson, and more. Overall, some reviewers don't like it as much as TERMS, but I think this improves on an already great story.

13 of 15 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Shirley MacLaine, back as Aurora Greenway..., January 21, 2005

By	Byron Kolln (the corner where Broadway meets Hollywood) - See all my reviews (TOP 50 REVIEWER)

THE EVENING STAR is the long-awaited sequel to TERMS OF ENDEARMENT, continuing the story of Aurora Greenway and the children of her daughter Emma.

Aurora (Shirley MacLaine) has succeeded in raising Tommy (George Newbern), Teddy (Mackenzie Astin) and Melanie (Juliette Lewis), though she's not very happy with the outcome. Tommy is in jail, Teddy has had a family out of wedlock and Melanie is skipping college and sleeping with a boy that Aurora (to put it mildly) doesn't approve of.

Aurora's lovelife has also taken a nosedive. Garrett (Jack Nicholson) has moved away and the house seems too big and lonely. At the `suggestion' of maid Rosie (Marion Ross) she goes to see a counsellor (Bill Paxton). Trying desperately to keep Emma's family together, Aurora slowly mends the rift between the past and present.

This emotional sequel to TOE is fantastic. Miranda Richardson fills the role of bitchy Patsy (played by Lisa Hart Carroll in the original film) perfectly, and Marion Ross more than fills the shoes of Rosie (played previously by Betty King). Juliette Lewis is lovely as Melanie (and does resemble Debra Winger who played Emma). And no sequel to TERMS OF ENDEARMENT would be complete without Jack Nicholson dropping by!

So lets revisit Aurora as she takes us through the next chapter of the Greenway story...

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars What a fantastic, beautiful movie!, December 17, 1999

By	hoshgilly (USA) - See all my reviews

Once again, the critics have no idea what they're talking about. This movie is so wonderful, it had me laughing, crying and everything in between. It is beautifully written and acted, and you will not be disappointed if you buy this movie!