Forget 'Pretty Woman', Julia Roberts' Most Touching Movie Is This 28-Year-Old Forgotten Gem

Julia Roberts' filmography boasts many iconic movies, yet one remains undeservedly overlooked: Stepmom, released in 1998, is a profound and moving exploration of motherhood, love, and forgiveness.

Director Chris Columbus crafted a film that starts as a classic Hollywood melodrama and ends as a genuine family tragedy.

What Is 'Stepmom' About?

12-year-old Anna and 6-year-old Ben are the children of Jackie and Luke, who are divorced. When Isabel, their father's new girlfriend, enters their lives, she tries to win the children's affection. However, their biological mother, Jackie, uses all her authority to prevent this.

Blood proves to be stronger than Isabel's kindness and charm, and she remains merely a stepmother. Just as Jackie achieves her goal, she learns she is terminally ill.

So, Isabel, whom the devoted mother could not imagine in her children's lives, must become the one person without whom their lives are unthinkable.

'Stepmom' Is Worth Watching if Only for the Performances of Julia Roberts & Susan Sarandon

The greatest strength of Stepmom is its brilliant acting duo: Julia Roberts and Susan Sarandon. Roberts plays Isabel, a fashionable photographer accustomed to being in control, who must learn to be a mother.

Sarandon portrays Jackie, a woman battling a serious illness and trying to come to terms with the inevitable.

The director highlights the differences between the characters through their clothing styles: Isabel wears trouser suits, while Jackie favors warm colors. As the story progresses, however, Isabel also comes to embody a sense of coziness – toward the end, we see her wearing a beige sweater and a red hat.

'Stepmom' Is a Melodrama That Is Simultaneously Cozy, Charming, and Heartbreaking

Stepmom is a melodramatic yet deeply comforting flick. Autumn serves as more than just a backdrop, it serves as a metaphor – Jackie confronts illness and begins to fade away, while Isabel symbolizes new life.

The movie teaches us how to navigate grief and forgiveness, showing that common ground can be found even in the most difficult situations. By the end, tears are inevitable, and you'll want to give your mom a hug right away.

What Did Critics & Viewers Think of 'Stepmom'?

• Stepmom has 45% from critics and 75% from viewers on Rotten Tomatoes.

• On IMDb, the movie has a score of 6.8/10.

• On Letterboxd, Stepmom scored 3.6/5.0.

Where to Watch 'Stepmom'?

Stepmom is available to buy or rent on Amazon Prime Video.