STEPMOM (1998) ***1/2 There are several major reasons not to expect much from this film, starting with the fact that it's directed by Chris Columbus and Julia Roberts is the title role box office draw. In fact the only thing that isn't surprising is that Susan Sarandon is brilliant. To say that Columbus leaves Roberts in a scene or two too long is shameless quibbling- in fact Roberts is nearly heroic in her portrayal of the younger woman with no interest in motherhood battling (herself, in large part) to become a relevant personage in the lives of two very witty children with sharp tongues (Liam Aiken and Jena Malone, I think we'll see a bit more of them and particularly her). Ed Harris is exceptional in portraying that rarest of creatures, an upper echelon attorney with the ability to compartmentalize to the extent that he has a meaningful home life. Beautiful performances all, and sharp snappy directing through scenes that could easily become caraicatures of the lofty ideals to which they aspire. Still, it's Sarandon who makes this something special. She somehow gets across the reality that not only does cancer make the lows lower, but it also offers higher highs as well. She turns what could easiliy have been rendered as a soap opera script into life affirmation, it is impossible to imagine that anyone could have been more magnificent down the all important final 20 minute stretch.
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