DVD Reviews

In Her Shoes

• Rating:
• Director: Curtis Hanson
• Starring: Cameron Diaz
• Details: US, 130 mins, 12s

Co-produced by Ridley Scott and directed by Curtis Hanson, this story about two very different sisters is marginally better than your average no-brainer, female-aimed film. Telling the story of the Feller girls - Maggie (Diaz) is the fun-loving, pretty, sleep-with-anything-in-expensive-trousers one; while her sister Rose (Collette) is the serious, less attractive, lawyer type. Fed up of bailing Maggie out of her continuing financial difficulties, the final straw comes for Rose when she catches her sister in her bed with her man. Maggie takes off to see Granny and Rose reassess life…
This fairly basic story is put together in the usual way, but what makes it work is the actors' ability to give proceedings a smidgen of emotional depth - something these films are often lacking in. It is a story about relationships - ultimately you have a trio of women, in different circumstances, mourning the same woman - but not as we know them; glossy, convenient job offers and unrealistic fuzzy moments abound. But if you're looking for a heart-warming (dare I say it) 'chick flick' to watch with the girls on a Friday evening you've definitely got the complete, easy-open package here. Conflict + crisis x resolution = drama. Q.E.D.

Review by Elaine Reilly