Stepmom

Businessman Luke (Harris) has a new girlfriend, gorgeous trendy Isabel (Roberts). His children prefer their mom, reliable protective Jackie (Sarandon). She isn't too keen on her replacement either, but she's dying from cancer. It's hard not to feel like a puppet while watching this - at every moment there's a cold hand prodding you into laughter or tears. Director Chris Columbus has been doing this for years, and as conservative propaganda goes (the message is good mums sacrifice all for their kids) it's as smooth as butter. The cast are more than adequate. Sarandon ennobles the dumbest of lines - contorting that intelligently clownish face into a million expressions of hurt - and Roberts does her urban-girl schtick to perfection.