Film Review - In Her Shoes

More than just a 'chick flick'
By: Rianne Hill Soriano

Starring: Cameron Diaz, Toni Collette
Directed by: Curtis Hanson
Official Movie site

I did not expect this supposedly ‘chick flick’ to have enough depth. But what I saw in the big screen was an interestingly profound and complex story about relationships – familial, friendly, romantic – they’re all there.

‘In Her Shoes’ is a richly textured story about the reconnecting of two estranged sisters who have nothing in common but their shoe size. But it is not just about a simple issue on sibling rivalry made into a rushed script to come up with a so-so story. It is not just a mere show-off of Hollywood stars ramping fashion clothes and blobbing some insensible girl talks. This film, based from Jennifer Weiner’s best-selling fiction, is a tale of how the past complexities of ruined family relationships try to seek the closure on what have been left hanging for the longest time. With sincerity, wits, and humor combined, this film gives an intelligent and moving effort.

Rose (Toni Collette), is the elder sister - a Philadelphia lawyer who buys expensive heels as an outlet to her depression and insecurities. Ironically, she never thinks of wearing them at all. Her lack of confidence especially with her physical features has made her an introvert who won't have sex with the lights on. Maggie (Cameron Diaz) is the younger sister – a consummate party hottie who remains the immature and dependent-type always seeking for financial support from her sister, father, and friends to continue her ‘girls-just-wanna-have-fun life.’ She regularly steals money and girl stuff from her sister and covers up her hang-ups in life by maintaining her oozing sex appeal, conspicuous looks and party-going life amidst her unemployable nature. The two sisters also share the agony of their mother's untimely death as well as the anguish of having a father (Ken Howard) who has kept too much secrets about delicate family issues. He already gives more attention to his second wife, a pretentious stepmother to Rose and Maggie.

After the pain of seducing her older sister’s boyfriend, the two sisters’ bond is cut short. And knowing that she has nowhere else to go, Maggie sets off to search for her long-lost grandmother Ella (Shirley MacLaine), the grandmother they have never known. Maggie finds her in a Florida retirement community and tries to take advantage of her dollar bills. Later on, she is convinced to work as a caregiver for the aged. Meantime, Rose gives up her work, starts walking dogs and loses some weight for doing more physical activities. And she falls in love with Simon Stein (Mark Feuerstein), another lawyer, who has been in love with her for years. From these experiences, the two sisters start to grow as real and learned persons facing their greatest fears and insecurities and further discovering their strengths. Eventually, Rose tracks Maggie down to Florida, where both sisters, and their grandmother finally face each other and try to recover what has been lost in their hampered family relationships.

There was good chemistry among the various characters. Each of the character is well-played. Touching sequences are very much apparent in the Florida retirement community where supporting and minor characters breathe new life to the portrayal of senior citizen roles. Tear-jerking moments are not too melodramatic and are just on the right taste for the point the director Curtis Hanson is driving at. Diaz gives justice to her parasite/hottie role. The scene where she struggles with her reading disabilities while taking care of an old man and x-professor gives the right build-up of emotions. Collette suits the intellectual but insecure personality of Rose’s character. MacLaine and Howard give effective supporting roles as well. And though the theme is derived from a serious subject matter, the humor is on the right taste and makes it a manageable tearjerker. A funny and warm depiction of familial relations, the metaphor about shoes is effective. But at some point, it seems to be slightly overused that the utilizing of shoes within the storyline already becomes too direct, too literal, and too much.

This film starts out like an ordinary movie that moves on to become a touching, character-driven melodrama with a touch of good humor to lighten it up. It has elements of romantic comedy and the characters feel like real people. The strength of the film is its heart for the audience as they can really put themselves in the characters’ shoes. Overall, this film is a truthful, moving and enjoyable one for those who enjoy good melodramas with some touch of ‘kikay-ness’ and comedy. And yet, it can also be appreciated by boys and men who can open themselves up to the values of family relationships and the realizations of growing old.