2008 Woodie Awards
The Spin on In Her Shoes
"Friends, Rivals, Sisters"-it's all the same
Marta Bunse
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Moving, yet hilarious, director Curtis Hanson's latest flick hits exactly the right spot when one is looking for a meaningful movie. Based on the novel by Jennifer Weiner, In Her Shoes is one of those films that sisters, or good girlfriends, should make a point to see together.
Rose Feller (Toni Collette) was always known as the shadow (so to speak) of her younger, thinner, more beautiful sister Maggie (Cameron Diaz). The close, but feuding sisters are complete opposites and always manage to get at each other's throats being that Maggie is more flaky, and less literate or sophisticated than Rose.
While Rose always feels obligated to take care of Maggie and get her out of trouble, she gets hardly any gratitude for her kindness. It is not until Maggie makes a monstrous mistake that ends up devastating Rose that she is finally pushed over the edge. The once close sisters are torn apart from anger, and throughout the film they begin to realize the importance of the bond that only sisters can share.
In Her Shoes is a straight-up "chick flick" (to be completely cliche); it is the type of movie that would make any boyfriend groan if he were dragged to it, until, of course, he saw Cameron Diaz. However, it is an excellent choice for any female who is looking for a good film to see on a girls' night. It is all about the closeness of sisters, family and, above all, love. Yes, the movie is heartwarming. Yes, it may bring a tear or two to the eye. But this film is actually quite impressive when it comes to accuracy of relationships between sisters. Collette and Diaz are so real in this film that it is almost impossible to tell that they aren't sisters in real life. The only complaint to be made of this fabulous film is the sappy, cliche ending; enough with the teary eyed poems already!
On a final note, In Her Shoes is probably the classiest PG-13 movie that has hit the theaters in a long time. Hanson and screenplay writer Susannah Grant manage to use adult humor, but they never once overdo it. So see In Her Shoes, just don't forget the sister/best friend/mom.