Product: The Next Best Thing (2000)
Rating: 2.0
So What's The "Next Best Thing"?
After watching this DVD I felt like asking what would be the "next best thing" -- hopefully a better movie. At best this is a mediocre film, a fairly ineffective mix of comedy, drama, and romance. Despite being friends in real life, Madonna and Rupert Everett have little chemistry (Everett was a much more appealing gay gal pal to Julia Roberts in "My Best Friend's Wedding"). We know these actors (along with Benjamin Bratt) can do better and perhaps it is the script that is to blame. Towards the end of the movie there is a sudden plot twist -- if the viewing audience was clued into this earlier it would have created more tension until it was eventually unveiled. While it is a betrayal to one of the characters it is likewise one to viewers. Without giving anything away, the turn of events is based on something that should have been common knowledge to any informed/involved parent (which the movie professes both parties are). Additionally, there are the usual (and admittedly nit-picky) film head-scratchers like how could a yoga instructor possibly afford a beautiful home like that in LA area?The extras on this DVD are fairly negligible. There are extended interviews with the cast and director (Madonna seems a bit on guard) and Madonna's video for "American Pie" (Interesting cover version or musical blasphemy? You make the call!). Overall, a disappointment for the talent involved.