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Mood:
- EmotionalHumorousOffbeatSentimentalBittersweet
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Plot:
- Best FriendsGays and LesbiansCouple RelationsParents and ChildrenCustodyDysfunctional FamilyFamily LifeMidlife Crisis more...
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Genres:
- ComedyDramaRomance
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Time/Period:
- 90s
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Place:
- Los AngelesUSA
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Audience:
- Date NightGirls' Night
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Humor:
- Silly Humor
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Style:
- Campy
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Attitudes:
- Semi SeriousRealistic
Does this gene fit The Next Best Thing?
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The Next Best Thing, 2000
English, French
USA
Profile of The Next Best Thing
The Next Best Thing can be described as emotional, bittersweet, and offbeat. The plot revolves around custody issues, thirtysomething life, and a midlife crisis. Its comic aspect comes from silly humor. The Next Best Thing's main genres are drama, comedy, and romance. In terms of style, it campy humor. In approach, it is realistic. The Next Best Thing is located in Los Angeles. It takes place in the 1990s. It is well suited for a girls' night and a date night.
Summary of The Next Best Thing
At her job, driving instructor Abbie (Madonna) has no problems getting her students to bend over backwards and tie themselves into knots for her. But in life she can't seem to find anyone to tie the knot with her. Robert (Everett), her best friend and confidant, runs a successful landscaping business but is having equally dismal luck finding his Mr. Right. When Abbie's latest relationship crumbles, she turns to Robert (who happens to be gay) for comfort and advice. They commiserate over a parade of margaritas and martinis, which results in an unexpected tryst. Abbie becomes pregnant and believing, that this may be her one shot at motherhood, decides to have the child. Robert, committed to being a good father, moves in with her, and together they create an unconventional but loving home for their precocious son, Sam (Stumpf). Robert continues to date but keeps parenting as his first priority. Abbie, on the other hand, uses her yoga skills to remain celibate but finally relents when she meets Ben (Bratt), a handsome and charming investment banker. Romance flowers between Abbie and Ben, and as they grow closer Robert feels his role as father threatened. Tensions mount, and when Abbie and Ben announce plans to be wed, the family explodes over a heart-wrenching custody battle for Sam. Everett sparkles and Madonna oozes her usual cool in this drama/comedy from the director of MIDNIGHT COWBOY.
Details
| Language: | English, French |
| Country: | USA |
| Release date: | 3 March 2000 |
| Runtime: | 108 min |
Cast and Crew
as Abbie Reynolds
as Robert Whittaker
Photos
Clips
Critics Reviews
Chicago Tribune
- |
- by: Michael Wilmington
USA Today
- |
- by: Susan Wloszczyna
