Stepmom

A mother (Susan Sarandon) has to deal with her ex-husband’s (Ed Harris) new girlfriend (Julia Roberts) playing a more active role in the lives of their two children. When she discovers she is terminally ill, she realises the need to let go and allow the stepmother into their lives.

Some strong performances from a star studded cast don’t save this film from being the tepid, long and overly sentimental affair you might expect from the synopsis. It feels like no one has seen this film, and it’s not hard to see why.

I can’t imagine who this is aimed at. It’s far too dull and miserable for a younger audience, yet it sweetens the pill of cancer, loss and divorce too much to have any real impact.